Operation Ouch Season 7 Episode 25 What a Stinker!

Operation Ouch is a children's educational TV show that explores the fascinating world of medicine and the human body. In season 7 episode 25, titled "What a Stinker!", the show focuses on the sense of smell and the surprising reasons behind why we find certain things stinky.

The episode begins with Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand explaining the science behind our sense of smell. They explain that our noses contain specialized cells, called odor receptors, that can detect different scents in the air. These receptors send signals to our brain, which allows us to identify and recognize different smells.

To demonstrate how our sense of smell works, the doctors carry out a series of experiments. In one experiment, they blindfold a group of children and ask them to identify different smells. The children struggle to identify some of the more obscure scents, showing how our sense of smell can be easily fooled.

Next, the doctors investigate why we find some things stinky. They explain that our brains are programmed to react to certain smells, such as the smell of rotten food or body odor, because they are associated with potential danger. These smells trigger a strong reaction in our brains, which tells us to stay away from those things.

To test this theory, the doctors conduct an experiment with a group of children. They ask the children to smell a range of different items, including some that are known to be smelly, such as cheese and vinegar, and some that are not, such as flowers and soap. The children rate each item on a scale of 1 to 10 based on how stinky they think it is. The results show that the children rate the smelly items as much stinkier than the non-smelly items, proving that our brains are wired to react strongly to certain smells.

The doctors then explain how our sense of smell can be useful in identifying certain medical conditions. They demonstrate how dogs can be trained to detect the scent of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and how scientists are researching ways to replicate this with electronic sensors. They also explain how our sense of smell can be affected by medical conditions such as sinusitis and allergies.

The episode ends with a fun and educational quiz that challenges viewers to identify different smells, from freshly baked bread to stinky cheese.

Overall, "What a Stinker!" is a fascinating and informative episode of Operation Ouch that teaches children about the science behind our sense of smell and why we find some things stinky. The doctors use fun experiments and engaging visuals to make complex concepts easy to understand, making it a great educational resource for children and adults alike.