I've got a piece in the Jan/Feb issue of Discover about the science behind osculation (the scientific term for kissing). A favorite example:
7. Being close enough to kiss helps our noses assess compatibility. In a landmark study, evolutionary biologist Claus Wedekind of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland reported that women prefer the scents of men whose immunity-coding genes are different from their own. Mixing genes that way may produce offspring with stronger immune systems.
The piece touches on the history, endocrinology, and chemistry of this popular pastime. You can read all 20 in the latest print issue and I’ll link to the full piece when it becomes available online…
