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Episode details

World Service,21 Nov 2025,11 mins

The ancient origins of kissing

What in the World

Available for over a year

Scientists at Oxford University in the UK now think that kissing evolved more than 21 million years ago, and it wasn’t humans that started it. As a behaviour, it has no obvious survival or reproductive benefits but it’s seen across the world, in humans and animals alike. Victoria Gill, our Science Correspondent, tells us all about the research and what we know about if animals can be romantic like humans can. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

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