Podlipodcast player Webplayer

Be Smart.

Be Smart.

The Science Behind Kissing

Be Smart. · Nov 11, 2026 · 7:35

0:007:35

Listen in the Podli app 🎧

Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Pucker up. I'm gonna lay some science on you!

When you really think about it, kissing is an odd human behavior. You know, all the rubbing of our faces all over each other. So there must be a good reason why we do it, right? From motherly comforts to testing the genetic compatibility of your "mate", the science of kissing is pretty awesome.

Learn more about "The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum at http://amzn.to/Nuy0TE

Sheril's book has an extensive bibliography if you'd like to look more closely at any of these studies, but here's a couple that I mentioned:

Study of facial features and attractiveness ("men prefer fuller, redder lips"): http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/68/2/261/

Claus Wedekind's famous "t-shirt" study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7630893

"Why do mothers cradle their babies on the left?" by Sieratzki and Woll, 1996 http://www.researchgate.net/publication/14543476_Why_do_mothers_cradle_babies_on_their_left/file/60b7d51558c9d65700.pdf

Want to know more about the famous Austin mural where we shot this? http://www.austin360.com/news/entertainment/share-your-i-love-you-so-much-photos/nTzPW/

Did you catch the cameo from Julia Wilde? http://www.youtube.com/user/wildescience

Joe Hanson - Host and writer
Joe Nicolosi - Director
Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
Katie Graham - Director of Photography
Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics
John Knudsen - Gaffer
Isaac Hammons - Sound

Produced for PBS Digital Studios
-----------
Join us on Patreon!
https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart

Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson
http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart

Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson
http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart

Merch
https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodes: Be Smart.

PodliGet the free Podli app
↓ App