Page 89 - The Miracle in the Atom

The Second Step On The Path To Matter: Molecules

are formed, yet scientists have so far not been able to reach agreement as to
why certain substances have a strong smell while some have less and why
some taste good and some bad.
Think for a minute. We could be living in a world without any flavour
or odour. Since we would have no idea about the concepts of taste and frag-
rance, it would not even occur to us to wish to possess these perceptions.
However, it is not so. Out of the brown soil with a unique smell come hund-
reds of types of aromatic and delicious fruits, vegetables and flowers in tho-

usands of colours, shapes and fragrances. Why then do these atoms, which,
on one hand, come together in an extraordinary way to form matter, combi-
ne, on the other hand, to produce taste and smell? Although we often take
them as granted and do not remember much what a great favour they are,
they pleasantly contribute to our world as products of a magnificent artistry.
As for other living beings, some eat only grass and some different fo-
odstuffs. Certainly, none of these smell good, or have a great taste. Even if
they do, this does not mean much for these living beings as they do not have
any consciousness in the sense that human beings have. We, too, could be fe-
eding on a single type of nutrition like them. Have you ever thought how or-

The picture above belongs
to an evil-smelling molecule
and the one on the left to an
aromatic molecule. As we
can see, what distinguishes
bad odour from a pleasant
odour is these small differ-
ences in a microcosm which
is invisible to us.

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