The science of sex – chemistry
Anyone who’s watched Professor Brian Cox explaining the mysteries of the Universe knows that science can be incredibly sexy. But did you know just how much chemistry has impacted our sex lives?
The American Chemical Society has released a video showcasing all the different ways in which chemistry has helped us have better sex. From the science behind birth control to the spicier elements of lube development, it’s eye-opening just how much recent innovation we take for granted.
What do chili peppers and lube have in common?
For instance, take lube: that simple, silky stuff that most of us use either during sex with a partner or with particular toys. Recent developments in chemistry mean this substance has been honed and refined in quite unusual ways.
Ever heard of thermoception? It’s what happens when something simulates the sense of warmth on your skin, and it happens in any warming lube you’ve used. You might know that certain chemicals are necessary to make this happen, but what you might not know is that some contain capsaicin ・ a chemical most commonly found in chilli peppers! Don’t worry, though ・ if you’ve never tried a warming lube it’s not as spicy as you think: the gentle heat sensation tingles and gently enhances arousal.
Want to know more? Check out the ACS video below! https://web.archive.org/web/20140821204335if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/54-rMC_67TM
What’s next for the science of sex?
Chemistry has clearly had a huge impact on how we have sex ・ from spicy warming lubes to the freedom that comes from good birth control. But where next? Are there any innovations we’re missing? Well, currently scientists are working on ideas for a graphene condom – something much thinner than the condoms most of us use at the moment, yet super-strong.
Elsewhere, teams of chemists are trying to solve the issue of birth control pills for men. Until now, birth control has been focused on regulating female hormones to prevent or interrupt ovulation. With a male birth control pill, guys could be the ones in the family planning driving seat.
We’re looking forward to the future of sex, and hoping the chemists, engineers and other scientists give us some more wonderful things to play with to make sex better, safer and more varied. In the meantime, it’s worth taking time to appreciate just how far we’ve come ・ over the last thirty years condoms have become stronger and safer, we’ve been given more variety when choosing lube, and birth control has come on in leaps and bounds. Which sexual innovations could you not live without? And is there something sexy you’d like chemists of the future to start working on?