The smelly mystery of the human pheromone | Tristram Wyatt

Do our smells make us sexy? Popular science suggests yes — pheromones send chemical signals about sex and attraction from our armpits. But, despite what you might have heard, there is no conclusive research confirming that humans have these smell molecules. In this eye-opening talk, zoologist Tristram Wyatt explains the fundamental flaws in current pheromone research, and shares his hope for a future that unlocks the fascinating, potentially life-saving knowledge tied up in our scent.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[peterpetrov]

It's crazy that we know the temperature of distant stars but we know so little about human sexuality. It's almost as if we are a bunch of 10 year olds.

[slhines]

I found that the aluminum used in the "white" antiperspirant deodorants actually causes the pores in the armpit to build up the stank pheromones, which is why I switched to clear deodorant.

[glomr]

Interesting. There are several men that experience more attraction from women by increasing their testosterone levels in relation to strength training. Would have been interesting to see if this has an effect on the secretion of "smell" molecules in the body, in addition to making it more masculine.

[HowardFarranDDS]

As a dentist I really enjoyed this TedTalk by @TristramWyatt“The smelly mystery of the human pheromone" and wondered how all this all applies to bad breath. Howard Farran DDS, MBA

[ZardoDhieldor]

This was an astonishingly interesting TED talk! Thank you for uploading! :)

[zarkoff]

Pheromones might be more important than just stimulating sexual desire.

[Brehvon]

Last I heard Napoleon wrote that don't wash thing so he'd know if she had been faithful while he was gone...

[hustle]

00:12 🌡 "Pheromone" is a powerful word associated with attraction, but it's only around 50 years old, invented in 1959.
02:57 🌐 Pheromones exist in various animals, but their existence in humans is still uncertain due to cultural factors and individual differences.
05:51 🙃 Human smell changes during puberty, but cultural factors influence our perception of odors, making it complex to study pheromones in humans.
10:35 🌍 Research into human pheromones needs to be systematic, exploring the entire body, and considering individual variations.
13:30 🚼 The identification of potential pheromones could have significant medical applications, such as aiding premature babies in breastfeeding.

[kylemeeson]

Lots of men notice an increase in attention from women when they abstain from ejaculation for at least a week, perhaps this is down to pheromones?

[id]

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

[Arcus]

This TED talk taught me that "secrete" and "secretion" are incredibly unsexy words, even when used in the context of breasts and nipples.

[annewang]

There was a Chinese romantic film about pheromone. It's about attraction between females and males, a little bit interesting!!! I watched the film several years ago.

[saleemisgod]

It occurs to me that humans unlike a lot of mammals don't have a definite mating season. For example when studying a dog or a cat it's reasonably easy to pinpoint when the female is "in season". Are humans seasonal? Just an observation, probably means nothing pheromone wise. 

[mx]

As a Hongkonger, I am pretty sure our armpits smell...?

[melexdy]

Very interesting subject.

Hormon actually translates into: charge

Hormeterion(stronghold from where one charges), Hormo(verb: charge), hormomenos( the one the charges), horme ( torque force) etc

The language is greek btw.

[ndubstar]

Interestingly the definition of pheromones is something we should easily notice not something we should search for

[glmrojb]

my mom's body smell something that makes me feel comfort, but I also ever found that smell(my mom's body smell) in many other people, in similiar smell, very similiar smell, is that pheromone?

[john]

This is a general knowledge everybody should know...in human body..is it a women or men every each of human they produce in different phoremone or smell it is a sexual attractive

[lolzaloids]

Anyone else have problem with the sound cutting in and out ?

[jonathanbriand]

Very interresting..
But I listen to it because this guy name is Tristram
(game from Blizzard refference)