A mild winter in upstate New York had Robert LeSuer, an assistant chemistry professor, breathing easier. Before big storms, the groundskeepers typically sprayed the steps outside his building at the College at Brockport with a mix of salt brine and beet juice to keep off ice. Throngs of students would then track in the mix on their shoes to an unventilated staircase where a particular smell concentrates.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 15, 2020 20:26 UTC