A fungus makes a chemical that neutralizes the stench of skunk spray

The compound pericosine turns reeks produced by the animals benign

skunk

MAKING A STINK  Skunk spray contains a cocktail of foul-smelling chemicals, but a particular type of fungus makes a compound that can take the stink away.

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A puppy pal that gets sprayed by a skunk is no friend to human noses.