Why do humans kiss when most animals don’t? It’s a question which has puzzled scientist and evolutionists the world over.
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When you think about it, locking lips and doing a bit of tongue-wrestling is a bit strange.
During a kiss you share saliva and pass on up to 80 million bacteria – which, quite frankly, is a bit icky.
All that aside, we’re a nation that loves snogging. Everyone remembers their first kiss and smooching plays a big role in new romances.
But while we love puckering up, not all countries around the world practice kissing.
In fact only 46% of cultures kiss in the romantic sense, according to a new study which looked at 168 cultures from around the world.
Previous estimates had put the figure at 90%, but new research found it was much lower than this.
In celebration of International Kissing Day, here are five strange facts about kissing:
1. Kissing started 3,500 years ago
Smooching, as we know it today, is a pretty modern according to Rafael Wlodarski of the University of Oxford.
After thorough research he found the oldest evidence of kissing comes from Hindu Vedic Sanskrit texts from over 3,500 years ago.
2. Your kissing style originated in the womb
Do you prefer leaning to the right when you kiss? Well, you’re not alone.
A German researcher observed over 100 couples and found two-thirds of them tilted their heads to the right.
Scientists believe this is because we are naturally tilted to the right in the womb.
3. Kissing uses 146 muscles
A snog might seem fun and effortless but you actually use 146 muscles to coordinate just one kiss. This includes 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.
A team of British researchers studied kissing couples under an MRI scanner and found that a kiss mostly involves the orbicularis oris (the muscle around your mouth).
4. Kissing burns 68 calories per hour
Smooching alone can help you shed the pounds. In fact, just half an hour of puckering up burns nearly 70 calories.
That might seem like a lot of kissing, but when you're in the throes of love it certainly isn't a chore.
"If the kissing is vigorous and involves some petting, it could be even closer to 90 calories burned in an hour," added Jaiya.
5. The longest kiss latest 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds
The longest kiss – according to the Guinness World Records – lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds.
The champion smoochers are Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat of Thailand.