Researchers find how to add more "love hormone" to your relationships

A study looks at the chemistry of couples engaged in different activities.

Henri Leconte at art class. 2019. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
  • Leisure activities can help release more oxytocin, say researchers.
  • Oxytocin is a hormone linked to social and sexual interaction.
  • Couples who took art classes and played board games together released oxytocin.
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Sex & Relationships

Want to age gracefully? A new study says live meaningfully.

Thinking your life is worthwhile is correlated with a variety of positive outcomes.

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  • A new study finds that adults who feel their lives are meaningful have better health and life outcomes.
  • Adults who felt their lives were worthwhile tended to be more social and had healthier habits.
  • The findings could be used to help improve the health of older adults.
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Surprising Science

Telling the truth works better than you might think

Research says we overestimate the risk of truthtelling.

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  • A new study looks at assumptions that telling the truth is dangerous
  • Telling the truth and getting along are not mutually exclusive
  • Being more honest can lead to more enjoyable, better relationships
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Personal Growth

Coparenting: A lifestyle innovation from our broke middle class

Economic necessity and growing isolation are making some middle-class families try coparenting, explains author Alissa Quart.

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  • Economic necessity and growing isolation are making some middle-class families try coparenting, explains author Alissa Quart.
  • Is the practice of sharing living spaces and parenting responsibilities across families a depressing trend or a "revolutionary" adaptation?
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Videos

Study: Are Platonic Heterosexual Relationships Really That Platonic?

A recent study reflects that men view their female friends differently than women view their male friends – but by a pretty insignificant margin. 

Actors Hugh Grant and Stephanie Stumph flirt during the Wetten dass...? show at the AWD Dome in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images)

A recent study in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science reveals that heterosexual men and women may view opposite-sex friends differently from one another. In particular, men in the study were more likely than women to report being attracted to their opposite-sex friends – but not by much.

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Surprising Science