According to a study published in the scientific journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences led by Professor Giuseppe Cirino of the University of Naples in Italy, studying eight men who had sex-change ops, the claims are: "We found that hydrogen sulphide is involved in human penile erection". As you might have uncredulously surmised by now hydrogen sulphide is a major odour constituent in nothing more aromatic than rotten eggs!
"The bizarre finding could help doctors to develop a more effective version of the sex drug Viagra. [...] A gas called hydrogen sulphide – also released when eggs rot and from the exhausts of cars with catalytic converters – is given out by men just before they have sex. Tiny amounts of it are released by nerve cells in a man's private part to prepare it for intercourse, a study found. The gas causes muscle cells in the region to relax, boosting blood flow, and leading to a better erection. Viagra, however, harnesses a different chemical – nitric oxide – to give users a boost. But one third of men have found the drug ineffective."Hydogen sulphide has the chemical type H2S, is a colourless and flammable gas, and is produced in mammalian organisms from cysteine by the effect of various enzymes. It can also be found in volcanic gases, swamps and sewers via anaerobic digestion (that means in the abscence of oxygen) and is partially responsible for the foul odor of flatulence as well! Another proof that not everything we think applies in matters of science! Although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late...Let's not forget the Permian-Triassic extinction about 252 million years ago!(I'm so itching to crack a joke right now).
I guess the order of the day is: Ladies, you're stongly advised not to rely on this as a man-ensnaring device; and gents, please don't try it as a boost to your manhood!
I found the very interesting article through Minette of Scent Signals. You can read the whole article here.
Pic of partial Wilkinson Quattro Titanium ad via invertospot.com.
Very amusing.
ReplyDeleteI just love all this nonsense....
Well, that article was a little confusing, but it doesn't seem that it's the act of SMELLING hydrogen sulphide that gives men erections. If "tiny amounts of it are released by nerve cells in a man's private part to prepare it for intercourse," then presumably the whole thing happens at the cellular level, and men are not, as it were, "giving off the smell" of rotten eggs into the air around them. Or if they are, it due to factors independent of being about to have sex.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it, I? Imagine if people took it literally and started...well, I'l leave this to your imagination!
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely correct J!
ReplyDeleteBut it's The Sun! What do you expect! I call this "prime time science"; science for digestion purposes. ;-)
Funny at any rate! :p