The stinky critter - whose spray is said to smell like a pungent combination of rotten eggs, boiled cabbage and even burning rubber - was eventually captured safely. Mr Murphy said: "I got a call at ...

While many creatures boast unique adaptations for survival, the striped skunk’s notorious odor is unmatched in the animal kingdom. But why exactly does this small mammal produce such a potent smell?

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier.

Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign, ...