Neanderthals May Have Smooched Their Way Into Our Hearts. Scientists Believe They Kissed Too.
In a recent study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our long-held perceptions of human history. It appears that Neanderthals - those mysterious, extinct relatives of ours - might have shared more than just a grave or two with us.
According to the findings, humans and Neanderthals interbred, resulting in their DNA being shared for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split. This raises questions about how intimate our encounters were. Dr. Matilda Brindle, the lead author of the study, believes that "probably" they were kissing.
This revelation comes as no surprise to experts who have long argued that humans and Neanderthals shared a complex history. The discovery sheds new light on our evolutionary past and highlights the intricate relationships between species in the animal kingdom.
But what exactly constitutes a kiss? Researchers had to come up with a definition that went beyond just human behavior, exploring other forms of friendly interaction like chewing and food-sharing or even "kiss-fighting" seen in certain fish. In the end, they settled on a more inclusive definition that encompasses any directed mouth-to-mouth contact between members of the same species.
The study suggests that kissing evolved somewhere between 21.5 million and 16.9 million years ago, among the ancestors of large apes. Neanderthals' place in this family tree means it's likely they indulged in a kiss too - and possibly even shared one with our own species.
While the evolutionary explanation is still debated, experts agree that kissing could have played different roles in our history. In some contexts, it might have been used to boost reproductive success or help choose mates. In others, it may have reinforced platonic bonds between individuals.
As we continue to unravel the mysteries of human history, it's essential to remember that our closest relatives - both living and extinct - share more than just DNA with us. We share a rich tapestry of behaviors, emotions, and even courtship rituals.
This new discovery not only challenges our views on Neanderthals but also reminds us of the deep connections we have with other species in the animal kingdom. As Penny Spikins, a professor at the University of York, so aptly put it: "Ways of promoting trust and intimacy will have been important for millions of years... It might be an image that seems incongruous to our misplaced ideas of a rather ruthless past, but really it should be no surprise that Neanderthals - and even Neanderthals and our own species together - kissed."
In a recent study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our long-held perceptions of human history. It appears that Neanderthals - those mysterious, extinct relatives of ours - might have shared more than just a grave or two with us.
According to the findings, humans and Neanderthals interbred, resulting in their DNA being shared for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split. This raises questions about how intimate our encounters were. Dr. Matilda Brindle, the lead author of the study, believes that "probably" they were kissing.
This revelation comes as no surprise to experts who have long argued that humans and Neanderthals shared a complex history. The discovery sheds new light on our evolutionary past and highlights the intricate relationships between species in the animal kingdom.
But what exactly constitutes a kiss? Researchers had to come up with a definition that went beyond just human behavior, exploring other forms of friendly interaction like chewing and food-sharing or even "kiss-fighting" seen in certain fish. In the end, they settled on a more inclusive definition that encompasses any directed mouth-to-mouth contact between members of the same species.
The study suggests that kissing evolved somewhere between 21.5 million and 16.9 million years ago, among the ancestors of large apes. Neanderthals' place in this family tree means it's likely they indulged in a kiss too - and possibly even shared one with our own species.
While the evolutionary explanation is still debated, experts agree that kissing could have played different roles in our history. In some contexts, it might have been used to boost reproductive success or help choose mates. In others, it may have reinforced platonic bonds between individuals.
As we continue to unravel the mysteries of human history, it's essential to remember that our closest relatives - both living and extinct - share more than just DNA with us. We share a rich tapestry of behaviors, emotions, and even courtship rituals.
This new discovery not only challenges our views on Neanderthals but also reminds us of the deep connections we have with other species in the animal kingdom. As Penny Spikins, a professor at the University of York, so aptly put it: "Ways of promoting trust and intimacy will have been important for millions of years... It might be an image that seems incongruous to our misplaced ideas of a rather ruthless past, but really it should be no surprise that Neanderthals - and even Neanderthals and our own species together - kissed."
They must've been pretty comfortable around each other to interbreed like that. And who knows, maybe they even had their own version of Tinder back in the day 
. This whole study just goes to show how connected our species have always been. It's not just about DNA, it's about all these little behaviors and emotions we share with others - even if we don't know them yet 
they're like, our OGs you know? and now we know they might have shared a smooch or two with us... it's like, who knew?! 
i love how the scientists are exploring all these different forms of intimacy between species... like, kiss-fighting fish 
?? anyway, this just proves that we're not as alone in the universe as we thought 
and can you imagine what it would've been like to share a romantic dinner with your neanderthal ancestors 
i cant believe we might have smooched with neanderthals lol like what would their kisses be like? would they have been all rugged and cave-man-ish or soft and gentle 
i mean who wouldn't want to kiss a neanderthal? they're basically our cool, mysterious cousins 
It's kinda wild to think that they might've been smooching around too. But what does it say about us? That we're not as different from them as I thought? Maybe our obsession with labels and definitions is just a way to avoid getting close to each other, like the researchers had to do when trying to figure out what constitutes a kiss 
. And that's when it hit me - maybe our attempts to understand our past and the behaviors of our ancestors are actually just an excuse to try and get in touch with ourselves. Like, we're not really looking at Neanderthals, but at our own hearts 
. maybe kissing was just a way for them to bond or something, but it's still kinda hard to wrap my head around.
. But it's actually kinda cool that we're learning more about how our ancient relatives interacted with each other. It just goes to show that love is in the air - or should I say, in the mouth-to-mouth contact? 
Maybe they were onto something with the whole "boosting reproductive success" vibe. It's all about respecting each other's boundaries and having open communication, right? 
I think it's awesome that scientists are giving Neanderthals a second chance, even if it's just in our imaginations 
.
I'm picturing a time-traveling Tinder match gone wrong... but seriously though, it's so cool to think that humans and Neanderthals shared this intimate moment. It just goes to show how connected we've always been as species.
I feel like this is a major breakthrough in understanding human behavior (or lack thereof). Who knew scientists were researching fish "kiss-fighting"?! 
It's so cool to think that we share a common ancestor with them and that they might have shared a smooch or two with us too 
. And I love how the researchers had to get creative with their definition of kissing - "kiss-fighting" in fish? 
with two overlapping circles: one for human behavior and the other for Neanderthal behavior. where their behaviors overlap, we see things like kissing, sharing food, and even some forms of play-fighting. it's crazy to think that these behaviors were shared across species boundaries.
Maybe instead of just negotiating from a place of power, we should try to build those relationships based on mutual respect and trust. Who knows, it might just lead to some groundbreaking diplomatic breakthroughs. 
. But seriously, it makes sense that our ancestors would have shared a bit of affection – after all, humans are wired to form connections and build relationships.
. It's a reminder that we're not as separate from nature as we sometimes think. And who knows? Maybe there are some ancient Neanderthal kissing techniques out there waiting to be rediscovered 
.
It's all about finding that special someone who loves you for who you are, fur coat and all!
. Like they're secretly planning world domination or something. But seriously, have you ever noticed how they always land on their feet? It's like they have a built-in gyroscopic system or something. And then it made me think of this thing my sister said the other day about how we should all try to be more flexible in our daily lives. Like, just take a deep breath and roll with it, you know?
. They actually had feelings too, you know? Like, they probably had crushes on each other or something 
. I'm not saying we're all going to go around kissing our Neanderthal cousins just yet (although that does sound kinda fun 
), but it's nice to know we've got some common ground with our ancient ancestors. And can you imagine having a Neanderthal BFF? That'd be, like, totally awesome