A Love for Science
This February, delve into the science behind attraction, love, mating, and even romance-associated foods with unique Academy resources and events.
Published February 11, 2013

February—the month of romance—is upon us, and the Academy has a plethora of events and resources to whet your appetite for love. Interested in planning a romantic evening complete with a decadent dessert course? Impress your date by choosing options that are both delicious and good for you with a little help from the eBriefing The Science Behind the Hype: Resveratrol in Wine & Chocolate.
If you're not into elaborate Valentine's Day plans, provide yourself with a fun distraction from all the V-day hype with the podcast Dinosaur Sex (yes, you read that correctly). Author Brian Switek discusses a rather unique area of expertise—dinosaur sex lives and the science behind them. Switek will be a panelist at the upcoming Science & the City event on February 12—see below for more information on this event and other great resources that blur the line between love and science.
![]() | EventLust and Love in the Animal KingdomFrom monogamous birds to polygamous primates, we love to point to the animal kingdom to explain our sexual patterns and behaviors. Join a panel comprised of a neuroscientist, animal behavior researcher, science journalist, and zoologist on February 12 to discuss just how similar animals and humans are in the love department. |
![]() | PodcastWhy Humans Have SexEvolutionary psychologist David Buss explains the mating rituals and patterns of our quirky species. We might not have colorful peacock tails, but we've got some fancy strategies of our own to make up for it. |
![]() | PodcastParaphilias: Does Sex Need Science?Two psychiatrists, a philosopher, and an ex dominatrix debate the definition of paraphilias and discuss whether science has a place between the sheets. |
![]() | PodcastMatchmaking in the Digital AgeAs internet dating gains popularity, millions of singles are turning over huge amounts of personal data to computers, hoping that an algorithm will find them the perfect mate. OK Cupid's data blogger Christian Rudder explains how all that data can reveal some interesting—and often funny—facts about the sex lives of humans online. |
![]() | PodcastThe Science of Love and Whom We ChooseHelen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and chief scientific adviser for Chemistry.com, delves into the science of why we lust for some people and not for others. |
![]() | PodcastThe Sex Lives of AnimalsThink sex for animals is all about mating? You're wrong. Learn about the diversity and biology behind the sex lives of animals at the Museum of Sex's related exhibit. Warning: Explicit Content |
About the New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.