We use our sense of smell in more ways than we think we do, says Associate Professor Robert LiKamWa. Odors can make us aware of things in our environment that may present safety risks. Some signs of disease and other health threats can be detected through smells. They also jog our memories of past experiences. LiKamwa, who does his augmented reality and virtual reality research in his Meteor Studio, is part of a team of ASU researchers working to produce “olfactory immersion” capabilities through virtual reality systems. The researchers see possibilities, for instance, for smells in virtual reality to help us learn to assess water quality and train firefighters to detect the sources of chemical fires. Read more about the research.