Why women find macho men sexy

A chiseled chin, strong jaw, narrow eyes, and thick eyebrows are the quintessential features of a manly man’s face. A recent study in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour found that women have sexual fantasies about men with these facial qualities, particularly when they are ovulating, and when their partners do not meet mucho macho standards.

The researchers suggest that this preference is due to the fact that masculine features signal high testosterone levels, but testosterone comes at a price: it impedes immunity. This means that testosterone handicaps men, and only those with robust immune systems can afford to have high levels of the hormone. As such, masculinity may function as an indicator for “genetic quality.”

But what if your face is slightly feminine? Are you forever doomed to the ranks of the unattractive? Well, no. “Pretty boys” are generally even more attractive. They appear more trustworthy, caring, sensitive, and are preferable as long-term partners.— Tu-Vy Dinh-Le

Source: University of Colorado at Boulder

Hey, doll face! Determining what makes a face look alive

A recent study published in Psychological Science has found that in order for a face to appear alive, it must be similar to a human face.

In the study, conducted by Thalia Wheatley and Christine Looser of Dartmouth College, pictures of dolls’ faces were morphed with photos of similar-looking human face. The researchers created a continuum of intermediate pictures that were a blend of human and doll faces. Participants then viewed these pictures, and decided which faces were human and which were the faces of dolls.

Looser and Wheatly found that the distinction between the faces of dolls and humans was made about two-thirds of the way along the continuum towards the human side, with the eyes being the most important facial feature in determining life.

The results suggest that telling the difference between inert objects and living organisms allows humans to reserve social energies for faces that are capable of interacting with us and forming connections.— Sherine Ensan

Source: Association for Psychological Science

Curry derivative protects brain against stroke and traumatic brain injury

A synthetic compound developed by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may have potential for treating neurological conditions such as ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury.

While there is no available treatment for TBI, the current treatment for stroke, known as tissue plasminogen activator, or TPA, is only successful in approximately one fifth of cases. A novel drug to treat these conditions, CNB-001, was derived from the turmeric, a spice commonly used in curry. The compound initially proved effective in targeting several components of neuron damage in tissue culture models, and scientists subsequently moved on to testing in animal models.

CNB-001, which was tested in animal models of ischemic stroke and TBI, was found to prevent behavioural changes due to stroke, reverse the behavioural changes caused by TBI, and preserve the cell survival signaling pathways in both conditions.— Kimberly Shek

Source: Salk Institute