Sex

Sex and sexuality is about more than just two people, a bed, and a few aphrodisiacs. Scientists study why humans have sexual intercourse (it is good for you and good for the species) and how sex is driven by evolution, genes, emotions and more. There is also much to learn about the differing roles of men and women in the whole mating game. Yes, there's lots of science to explore. Not that an aphrodisiac isn't more fun.

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Hybrid Female Fish Is Both Mother and Father to Her Offspring

March 25, 2016 | Article

When a group of researchers crossbred cichlids to learn about their genetics, they discovered an unusual development in one of the hybrid females.
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8 Animals That Show Their Love in Painful Ways

March 20, 2016 | Image Album

Sex among primates and certain mammals is thought to provide pleasure for the participants. But for many animal species, sex is anything but pleasant.
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Spines and Genital Warfare: How Neil deGrasse Tyson Got Sex Wrong

March 14, 2016 | Article

Astrophysicist Tyson tweeted: "If there were ever a species for whom sex hurt, it surely went extinct long ago." Sorry Dr. Tyson, evolution don't care if sex is painful.
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Kinky Spiders: Males Tie Up Partners During Sex

February 23, 2016 | Article

For male nursery-web spiders, bondage during mating can be a matter of life and death.
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Songbirds Rap, Tap & Sing For Sex | Video

November 18, 2015 | Video

There’s a lot of love song and dance going on above our heads. Video (incl. slo-mo) of Blue-Capped Cordon-Bleu birds show the musical mating rituals of males and females.
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Glowing Eels? Sex Drives Brain Protein to Evolve Brightly | Video

November 10, 2015 | Video

A 'brightly fluorescent protein' has been revealed in some species of marine eels causing them to glow. Researchers have speculated that, because the full moon 'excites' the glow of the sea creature, this may be a mating adaptation.
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If Aliens Exist, Would They Have Sex?

October 14, 2015 | Article

Aliens might have sex, assuming the benefits outweigh the risks on their home planets. What that sex would look like is an open question. But if animal antics on Earth say anything, extraterrestrial sex would be weird.
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No Boys Allowed: Snake Mom Has 'Virgin Birth'

September 24, 2015 | Article

A female water snake in Missouri can do something that no human woman can (no matter how badly she might want to).
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Sex After a Heart Attack? Doctors Give the All Clear

September 21, 2015 | Article

Sex does not increase heart attack survivors' risk of having another attack, except in rare cases, a new study finds.
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Ashley Madison Scandal: Science Reveals 2 Main Reasons People Cheat

September 14, 2015 | Article

We may never know exactly what drove millions of men and women in committed relationships to log on to AshleyMadison.com to find lovers, but most cheaters fall into two categories, science shows.
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