KISSING is catching. Almost two decades ago, anthropologist Helen Fisher estimated that 10 per cent of humanity did not kiss. Globalisation has shrunk that figure, so that osculation now rules in most societies that are touched by the modern world. Why? One suggestion is that it’s a vestige of our ancestors’ love of ripe fruit (see “K∗I∗S∗S∗I∗N∗G”), but the role of kissing remains mysterious. Perhaps it is one of those facets of human behaviour that will remain forever beyond our ken – but no less delicious for that.
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