A sniff test could become a standard medical procedure in the future, after researchers found people with a poor sense of smell were much more likely to die within the next ten years.
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that, compared with older adults with a good sense of smell, those with "poor nasal discernment" were at a 46% higher risk for death at 10 years, and 30% at 13 years.
The work by epidemiologist Honglei Chen reviewed figures from the US National Institute on Ageing in relation to about 2,300 patients aged between 71 and 82 who completed a smell test of 12 common odours.
He said a poor sense of smell was known as an early sign for some conditions, adding that it could be an "early and sensitive sign" for deterioriating health.
Some shellfish really like to party.
That was the erroneous conclusion drawn by online commenters on a report about samples of prawns tested in a rural area of eastern England, which were all found to contain low levels of cocaine.
Scientists made the "surprise" discovery after sampling 15 locations across Suffolk and testing for levels of micro-pollutants in the creatures.
"Cocaine was found in all samples tested, and other illicit drugs such as ketamine, pesticides and pharmaceuticals were also widespread in the shrimp that were collected," they said.
While concentrations were low, the authors noted the compounds "might pose a risk to wildlife".
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