Skip to content
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • Happy Health
  • Happy Mindset
  • Animal Wonders
  • About Us
    • Team
  • Subscribe
Happy News

The Evolution Of Kissing Goes Back 21 MILLION Years

Scientists have reconstructed the evolutionary origins of kissing and discovered that mouth on mouth smooching evolved more than 21 million years ago, likely practiced by the common ancestor of humans and other great apes. Lead researcher Dr. Matilda Brindle from the University of Oxford explained that because humans, chimps, and bonobos all kiss, it’s likely their most recent common ancestor also engaged in this behavior that presents something of an evolutionary puzzle since it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits. The study, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour, defined kissing very precisely as non aggressive, directed oral oral contact “with some movement of lips or mouthparts and no food transfer” to ensure they were comparing the same behavior across different species.

By finding evidence of kissing in wolves, prairie dogs, polar bears who engage in very sloppy kisses with lots of tongue, and even albatrosses, scientists were able to construct an evolutionary family tree to pinpoint when this behavior most likely evolved. The research also concluded that Neanderthals probably kissed too, and that modern humans and Neanderthals may have even smooched one another, evidenced by the fact that both species shared an oral microbe found in saliva, meaning they must have been swapping spit for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split. While the study successfully pinpointed when kissing evolved, it couldn’t answer why, though theories suggest it arose from grooming behavior in ape ancestors or might provide an intimate way to assess the health and compatibility of a partner. Dr. Brindle emphasized the importance of studying this behavior seriously rather than dismissing it as silly because of its romantic connotations in humans, noting that “it’s important for us to understand that this is something we share with our non human relatives” that deserves scientific attention.

PrevPreviousShe Lost Her Language, Now At 87 She’s Getting It Back
NextFree Transit Cut Emissions By Over 25,000 TONSNext

Recent Articles

Happy News

This New Underwater Fossil Discovery is 512 Million Year Old

February 6, 2026

Paleontologists have unearthed a treasure trove of fossils from 512 million years ago including 90 species previously unknown to science. The discovery comprises 153 different species from 16 major animal groups including sponges, arthropods and bizarre segmented apex predators known as radiodonts that make up a complex food web, dating

Read More
Happy News

What Makes Some Dogs GENIUS Word Learners

February 6, 2026

Scientists have discovered that some exceptionally skilled dogs called gifted word learners can quickly remember the names of toys, and new research reveals the key factor behind their unusual ability isn’t about curiosity but about their relationship with humans. Animal behaviorist Andrea Sommese of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Read More
Happy News

How Our Voices Affect Dog Behavior

February 6, 2026

Hearing a human voice can affect a dog more than previously thought as new research suggests that angry or happy voices are linked to measurable changes in dogs’ balance, with angry voices often causing destabilizing effects that physically sway their bodies. Scientists led by Nadja Affenzeller at the University of

Read More
« Previous Next »
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Notice
  • Accessibility Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Unsubscribe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2026 HappyNews.