Why We Have Two Nostrils Instead of One Big Hole. (Great title!) “The nostrils alternate airflow from one side to the other. This may allow one side of the nose to rest.”
Advertise here with Carbon Ads
This site is made possible by member support. 💞
Big thanks to Arcustech for hosting the site and offering amazing tech support.
When you buy through links on kottke.org, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for supporting the site!
kottke.org. home of fine hypertext products since 1998.
Beloved by 86.47% of the web.
Comments 10
thread
latest
popular
OMG that article is so wrong. None of those are WHY we have 2 nostrils. we have 2 nostrils because of the way cells divide and the way we have evolved as symmetrical beings around a central nervous core. because of the way we have evolved the organs have also developed in ways to maximize the benefits of this bilateral symmetry.
So why do we have one digestive tract, one mouth, one ...
Why We Have One Big Mouth Instead of Two Small Mouthlets
the respiratory system develops separately from the digestive system, and both of those are separate from the development of the face. the nostrils are formed each from one side, while the mouth is formed top and bottom. there are evolutionary reasons for this.
the points in the article are effects of the nostrils, not causes.
Search embryology and development of the face if you want a bit more detail.
Two Small Mouthlets would be AWESOME! You could eat and talk at the same time without being gross. You could drink and eat, or you could do fun flavor experiments, like spicy in one mouth and sweet in another, maybe they'd merge somehow and you could get both flavors as you swallowed?! Also what about speaking in two languages?! One mouth speaking Spanish and the other English so you could order tacos and catch up with your friend simultaneously?!
Just to be clear, I am not in favor of the Alien "mouth within a mouth" design. That is terrifying and has no place on Earth.
Another bonus: singing in harmony with yourself.
I read one time that the nose is two paired organs just like the ears and it kinda blew my mind. (Blew my nose?)
Yes, two organs side by side (mirrored). There is a reason why the part that separates them is called septum. But then there people that have blown a hole in that by shoving nasty stuff up their nostrils — does that make the two into one? Hard question, IMO.
Everybody check out "Breath" by James Nestor. Our nostrils have a LOT of specialized purposes.
Hello! In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. If you'd like to sign up for a membership to support the site and join the conversation, you can explore your options here.
Existing members can sign in here. If you're a former member, you can renew your membership.
Note: If you are a member and tried to log in, it didn't work, and now you're stuck in a neverending login loop of death, try disabling any ad blockers or extensions. Or try logging out and then back in. Still having trouble? Email me!
In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. Check out your options for renewal.
If you feel like this comment goes against the grain of the community guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate, please let me know and I will take a look at it.
This thread is closed for new comments & replies. Thanks to everyone for participating!