5 Research Highlights
Discoveries that'll impress your friends
Here are five of our favorite research projects. Read more about CAS faculty and student discoveries here.
Lemurs Smell Better Than You
Eva Garrett, Boston University assistant professor of anthropology, is sniffing out the subtleties in the evolution of the primate sense of smell. Primates with a fully functional vomeronasal system—which senses molecules called pheromones—use it for signaling readiness for mating, marking territory, and even shutting down a rival female’s ovulation. The vomeronasal system is vestigial in humans, which means we’ve lost a sophisticated sensory organ. Garrett is studying why and how. 
Toxins in Our Kitchens
A rise in fracking means gas used in fireplaces and kitchen ranges now contains 27 hazardous chemicals and 12 suspected carcinogens, according to a study by Nathan Phillips, an Earth and environment professor. Because the gas doesn’t combust fully, those toxins linger in our homes. 