For decades, conventional wisdom decreed that humans could detect about 10,000 different scents, which is nothing to sniff at, but not even in the ballpark with, say, dogs, whose olfactory sensibilities were estimated to be at least 1,000 times more acute.

Well, the contest just got a little closer — by a nose, so to speak.

A new study out of Rockefeller University suggests that well-functioning human noses can differentiate 1 trillion different odors. By comparison, our eyes can distinguish somewhere between 2.3 and 7.5 million colors and our ears 340,000 different tones.

The scientists didn't actually test for 1 trillion different smells. They extrapolated that number from study participants sniffing variations of smells comprising up to 30 different odorant molecules. They said the actual number of detectable smells might be higher when you add even more odor molecules to the mix.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Human taste buds regenerate every seven to 10 days, but not forever. By age 60, most people have permanently lost half of their taste buds.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

Insects, such as termites and ants, provide roughly 10 percent of the protein consumed worldwide. In places where they are an integral part of diets, insects may contribute as much as 40 percent of protein consumed.

While protein content varies, some insects are positively packed with the stuff. An adult female gypsy moth, for example, is 80 percent protein. By comparison, beef and cheese max out at 40 percent.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of typing burns 102 calories (based on a 150-pound person), or the equivalent of 0.1 Big Macs, or just under half a can of regular Coca-Cola.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Acerophobia — fear of sourness

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for beef tri-tip is 4 pounds, 11 ounces in 12 minutes, held by Hall Hunt. Warning: Most of these records are held by professional eaters; the rest by people who really should find something better to do.

OBSERVATION

"If you can solve your problem, Then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, Then what is the use of worrying?" — Author Tulku Thondup

EPITAPHS

"Ma loves Pa — Pa loves women

Ma caught Pa with 2 in swimmin'

Here lies Pa."

—Tombstone of Lawrence L. Cook Jr. (1934-2004)

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.