{"id":592212,"date":"2025-02-11T12:20:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T17:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=592212"},"modified":"2025-11-19T15:26:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:26:21","slug":"valentines-day-research-stories-multimedia-roundup-592212","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/valentines-day-research-stories-multimedia-roundup-592212\/","title":{"rendered":"From Rochester with love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love is in the (chilly) air, keeping florists, romantics, and would-be poets busy. Admittedly, the true origins of Valentine\u2019s Day\u2014replete with scandal, violence, and gore\u2014remain a bit murky with a few rivaling origin stories. The most likely, however, involves the ancient festival of Lupercalia, a raucous, wine-fueled fertility rite in which Romans partied hard and paired off. Here\u2019s a tamer cross section of hearty research, endearing stories, and moving moments from across the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½<\/a>\u2014sent your way with lots of love.<\/p>\n

\n

The science of love and relationships \ud83d\udd2c<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Looking for a match made in heaven\u2014or online? Science says stay grounded<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Rochester psychologist and relationship expert Harry Reis has pointers on how to find and foster love<\/a>, including how to get the most out of online dating.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration
Harry Reis was instrumental in launching the field of relationship science. The Rochester psychologist offers his research-based insights on dating and love in the digital age. (Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ illustration \/ Sarah Mossey)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Price of Flirting<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n

Picture this: You\u2019re at a bar when someone starts hitting shamelessly on your spouse or significant other, who doesn\u2019t flirt back. As the scene unfolds, your base instincts kick in\u2014annoyance, anger, jealousy\u2014followed by a greater desire for your partner. Right? Nope. Instead, the researchers discovered a surprising twist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Happy
FLIRTING FALLACY?<\/strong> Contrary to popular belief, someone who flirts with your spouse can actually cause your own attraction to your partner to wane. (Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOVE IN THE ICE AGE<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Modern humans and Neanderthals had a fling or two. Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ 40,000 to 60,000 years ago, modern humans left Africa, encountering Neanderthals on the way, and, well, got cozy by the fire. And guess what\u2014you may be the living proof: the gene flow between Neanderthals and modern humans<\/a> means that today most non-Africans carry one to two percent Neanderthal DNA.<\/p>\n

\"Two
EXTENDED FAMILY TREE:<\/strong> In a pair of groundbreaking studies, researchers traced how ancient interactions with Neanderthals have shaped modern human evolution. (Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ illustration \/ Michael Osadciw)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES. AND, YES, THE WORMS.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Not all nematodes are the same. Take it from male roundworms: They are really picky when it comes to choosing their tiny mates. According to research from the Portman Lab<\/a> at the\u00a0Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience<\/a>, male worms do not mate indiscriminately but rather are selective about their intended mate\u2019s age, mating history, and nutrition. The findings move us closer to solving the genetic mysteries behind the biology of attraction\u2014from worms to humans.<\/p>\n