Fast Facts About Love

(Feb. 13) - Scientists have been busy researching the nature of love. Here's a spate of recent insights that have been in the news.

1. Chemical in Men's Sweat Arouses Women: Yes, stories like this seem to surface every year. In this study, women who sniffed a chemical found in male sweat "experienced elevated levels of an important hormone, along with higher sexual arousal, faster heart rate and other effects." The research "represents the first direct evidence that people secrete a scent that influences the hormones of the opposite sex."

2. Women Settle for Mediocre Sex, Scientist Finds: That headline makes you wonder how the scientist compiled the data. Actually, it was a psychiatrist at the University of Virginia Health System who has collected a lot of data over the years that shows that many women feel deflated after sex, but don't discuss it. They are not satisfied on an emotional level and, according to the psychiatrist, Anita Clayton, "They might have had an orgasm. But many women don’t feel like [an orgasm is] the end-all, be-all every time they have sex."

3. Genetic Test Could Reveal a Cheating Heart: This one seems unfair because the study shows how genes may indicate if a girlfriend or wife will cheat on you. The research revealed that a cluster of genes, involved in immune function among other things, could predict how sexually attracted a person is to a partner and how likely a woman is be faithful to her mate. No such "relationship test" exists, but it only requires a DNA swab.

4. Top 10 Aphrodisiacs: It turns out there might be a grain of truth to the myths about oysters and pine nuts being aphrodisiacs. Check out the gallery to get the full scoop on other purported love boosters, such as rhino horns, Spanish fly and more.

From Last Year: In 2006, National Geographic magazine ran a cover story and the National Geographic Channel. aired a TV special called 'What's Sexy?' Among other things, these included information about why riding a roller coaster on a first date is more likely to lead to a second date and why a candlelight dinner really works.