and then there are very good boys

還有一些很好的男孩

like these dogs here. They're searching for a scent

就像這些狗一樣它們在尋找一種氣味

that no human can detect:

人類無法察覺的。

the scent of an epileptic seizure.

癲癇發作的氣味。

We've long known that dogs can detect seizures in humans

我們早就知道狗能檢測到人類的癲癇發作。

in some cases 45 minutes before they occur.

在某些情況下，在發生前45分鐘。

That's one reason why organizations like Handi'chiens

這也是為什麼像Handi'chiens這樣的機構

in France provide service dogs for people with epilepsy.

在法國為癲癇患者提供服務犬。

And in some cases, this can prove lifesaving.

而在某些情況下，這可以證明是救命的。

It might give people time to take medication

可能會讓人們有時間吃藥

that could prevent or reduce the severity of a seizure

可以防止或減輕癲癇發作的嚴重性的措施。

or move somewhere safer where an injury

或搬到更安全的地方，以免受傷

is less likely to occur.

是不太可能發生的。

Incredible?

難以置信？

Yes.

是的，我知道

But proven?

但經過證明？

Not until French researchers teamed up with Medical Mutts,

直到法國研究人員與Medical Mutts合作。

a US-based organization that trains seizure alert dogs.

美國一家訓練癲癇警報犬的組織。

That marker, they believed, was a scent

他們認為，那個標記是一種氣味。

that dogs can detect.

狗能發現的。

So in 2018, they set up an experiment.

於是在2018年，他們設立了一個實驗。

First, they collected dozen of samples of

首先，他們收集了十幾份樣品的

breath and sweat from people with

人的呼吸和汗水

different forms of epilepsy.

不同形式的癲癇。

Some of them were taken during or right after a seizure,

其中一些是在癲癇發作期間或剛發作後拍攝的。

while others were collected after exercise or at rest.

而其他的則是在運動後或休息時收集的。

Then they distributed them among seven different

然後他們把它們分給七個不同的

steel containers in this room.

這個房間裡的鋼製貨櫃。

Finally, they let out, or, they let in the dogs.

最後，他們放了出來，或者，他們放了狗進來。

One by one, Casey, Dodger, Lana, Zoey, and Roo

凱西、朵朵、拉娜、柔伊、魯魯一個接一個

walked into the room.

走進了房間。

They were trained to stop and stand still

他們被訓練得停在原地不動

if they think they detected the scent of a seizure.

如果他們認為自己檢測到了癲癇發作的氣味。

And if they were right, they got a treat,

如果他們是對的，他們就會得到獎勵。

good dog!

好狗

To the researchers' excitement, the canines excelled.

令研究人員興奮的是，這些犬類的表現非常出色。

Three of the dogs, Casey, Dodger, and Zoey,

三隻狗，凱西、朵朵和佐伊。

sniffed out the odor associated with seizure with

用嗅覺嗅出與癲癇發作有關的氣味。

100% accuracy.

100%的準確性。

The two other pups, Lana and Roo, who had less

另外兩隻幼犬拉娜和魯，他們的體重較輕。

time to train, weren't quite as accurate.

訓練的時間，是不是很準確。

But they still correctly identified two-thirds

但他們仍然正確識別了三分之二的人

of the seizure samples on their first try.

的癲癇樣本的第一次嘗試。

What makes these results even more remarkable

是什麼讓這些結果更加顯著

is that the scent samples were from different people

是，氣味樣本是來自不同的人

and also produced by different kinds of seizures.

而且也是由不同種類的癲癇發作產生的。

And what exactly is that marker made of?

而那個標記到底是用什麼做的呢？

Here's the thing: We still don't know.

事情是這樣的：我們還是不知道。

It's likely that seizures trigger a change in the body's

很可能是癲癇發作引發了身體的變化。

electrical activity, the researchers say.

研究人員說，電活動。

And those changes can affect the

而這些變化會影響到

composition of odor molecules that

氣味分子的組成

we emit through our sweat, breath, and, likely, urine.

我們通過我們的汗水，呼吸，和，很可能，尿液排放。

Now, whether people emit these odors

現在，人是否會發出這些氣味

before a seizure in time to reduce its worst effects

癲癇發作前，及時減少其最壞的影響。

is still in question,

仍然是個問題。

and it's not something that the researchers tested.

而這並不是研究人員測試的東西。

But some experts claim that people emit a specific

但有專家稱，人們會發出一種特殊的

group of odor chemicals 15 to 45 minutes prior to seizing,

在扣押前15至45分鐘，一組氣味化學品。

which dogs can detect.

狗能檢測到的。

So what exactly makes canines such smell superstars?

那麼到底是什麼原因讓犬類成為這樣的嗅覺巨星呢？

It's their incredible noses.

這是他們不可思議的鼻子。

With as many as 300 million olfactory receptors,

擁有多達3億個嗅覺受體。

a dog's nose is up to 100 thousand times

狗鼻子十萬八千倍

stronger than our own.

比我們自己的強。

That means they can detect a few scent molecules

這意味著他們可以檢測到一些氣味分子。

among trillions of them.

萬億人中。

Scientists are now trying to build electronic noses

科學家們現在正試圖製造電子鼻子。

that are just as powerful.

是一樣的強大。

The idea is that they too

這個想法是，他們也

could be used to sniff out diseases.

可以用來嗅出疾病。

But for now e-noses are nowhere near as good as dogs,

但目前電子鼻還遠不如狗。

and in some ways, doesn't that seem like a good thing?

在某些方面，這不像是一件好事嗎？