INTERVIEW: What science says about why humans kiss

from Hack · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

There are certain things in life that we don't question too much.Like kissing, for example. Snogging, making out, even just a peck... but why? Why is swapping saliva something all human societies have normalised?So where did it originate? Well, it turns out kissing isn't just a human thing: all sorts of species appear to kiss, and new research now suggests Neanderthals did it too, possibly even with modern humans.In this special episode of the hack summer podcast, Dave Marchese unpacks the potential origins and purpose of kissing with University of Oxford evolutionary biologist Dr Matilda Brindle, as well as why we masturbate.Guest: Dr Matilda Brindle, University of Oxford, evolutionary biologistGet the whole story from Hack:Follow us on InstagramSubscribe to the hack podcastListen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

What this episode covers

There are certain things in life that we don't question too much. Like kissing, for example. Snogging, making out, even just a peck... but why? Why is swapping saliva something all human societies have normalised? So where did it originate? Well, it turns out kissing isn't just a human thing: all sorts of species appear to kiss, and new research now suggests Neanderthals did it too, possibly even with modern humans. In this special episode of the hack summer podcast, Dave Marchese unpacks the potential origins and purpose of kissing with University of Oxford evolutionary biologist Dr Matilda Brindle, as well as why we masturbate. Guest: Dr Matilda Brindle, University of Oxford, evolutionary biologist Get the whole story from Hack: Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

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INTERVIEW: What science says about why humans kiss

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This episode was published on December 19, 2025.

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