6. Human Territory Marking Through Scent
Season 6, episode 3 of the Big Bang Theory sees Sheldon hiring a new assistant in order to help him sort through his childhood journals. In doing so he inadvertently makes Amy quite jealous. In one scene she, along with Penny, breaks into Sheldon's office fearing she would find them engaged in some form of adulterous act. She is, of course, incorrect but goes on to lick Sheldon's office supplies while rubbing her armpit on the phone. She states she is marking her territory, but isn't that simply for animals such as cats and dogs? Turns out it's not. Humans secrete a chemical substance known as pheromones which, based on the type of pheromone, illicit various responses. However, territory pheromones don't work the exact way Amy attempted to use them. Instead, what Amy may be doing is covering things in her scent through the use of her sex pheromones. Humans are often attracted to others through scent - sweat is a major distributor of pheromones. Like other mammals humans secrete sex pheromones which attract mates. By leaving one's natural scent in another's living or work area the chances that they will later be attracted to the same scent increases. There has been little research done on this subject with humans so it's still not quite as understood as it is with other mammals. If you have yourself a little crush, however, you could do some research of your own. Just don't get caught.