5 THINGS THE SMITHSONIAN TAUGHT ME ABOUT SEX

Museums can show a lot of things in nature. Research enables us to unveil and learn interesting things for knowledge and use. The Smithsonian institute comprises museums and a research center that is a source of knowledge. Apart from science and history, what can this institution unveil about sex? In this article, consider five things about sex from the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian Institute is the epitome of culture and history. It is the largest group of museums and research centers in the world. The institute is a good source for scientists and researchers to use the available resources and extend their curiosity. These findings are recorded in videos or documentaries on their sites. It is a vast world of increasing knowledge. People can learn a lot by studying writings and documentaries. What are the things that nature can teach about sex? In this article, go through 5 things the Smithsonian taught about sex and what you can learn from nature.

Size or Rhythm?

Logue & Grimes (2022) revealed that communication is key to any relationship, and clear expectations are important to avoid disappointment. People can learn this from the Fiddler crabs. What distinguishes this species of crabs from others is the dimorphism between males and females. This means that the two have different features in that females have 2 equal claws while males have one claw extremely bigger than the other. They wave and tap the claw wherever there are females around. This waving motion is why they are called fiddlers. Several males are usually doing this to compete for the female's attention. What attracts the female to a male fiddler crab? It is not only the size of the claw but also how he performs with it. In an interview with The New York Times, Dr. Mowles explains that male crabs use their huge claw to dig a burrow for living, protection, and incubating their eggs. A huge claw means that the male has a huge burrow. In addition, the male crab that can fiddle its claw rapidly means that he has great stamina and is a good choice for a mate. The female goes to the male crab and uses their legs on one side of their body to tickle him, communicating that she is interested in him. The lesson we can take from the female Fiddler crabs is that one can set realistic expectations of what they want in a partner to meet their needs.

Same-Sex Parenting

Taylor (2022) discovered that the Hawaiian Laysan albatross mate for life, but they don't always end up with the partner they mated with. These birds only raise one chick for a year, and the task of incubating eggs and raising the young ones can be demanding for a single parent. To help with the task, female albatross will pair up, co-habit and raise the chick as a couple. Though same-sex couples produce fewer chicks than a male-female couple, same-sex birds can still raise kids. The female-female albatross parents teach that same-sex couples can work and are equally capable of raising a family.

Dying To Get It

Mating is not only for breeding but a matter of life and death for some animals. They live and give up their life for mating and reproduction. The female praying mantis is known as a man-eater. The female eats men; it's the male species. The cannibalism act happens during mating. The sexual act takes a lot of energy, humans can attest to that, and the female praying mantis needs the energy to produce fertilized eggs. The male is a great source of that nutrition. Šekrst (2022) illustrated that the female mantis starts by eating the male's head while in the act. When the male dies, his abdomen convulses and pumps sperm into the female. The female devours the rest of the male's body. The male praying mantis is dying to get it. A lesson from the praying mantis is that sacrifice is needed for both sex and achieving relationship goals.

Dance for Your Life

Dancing is used as a recreational activity, as an artistic expression, and as a great way to lose calories. Dance has many physical and psychological benefits. Apart from humans, animals have also been known to make some moves. They may move rhythmically as a form of communication or movement. Most animal species use dance to win a mate, but the male peacock spiders dance for their lives as they try to get female attention. What happens? An article in the Smithsonian Magazine explains these male spiders are rainbow in color and have a fan-like appendage on their thoraxes. Boff (2022) revealed that the male spiders show off their dance skills to impress females to get laid. They raise their fan in the air and dance for their lives. The female spider chases the male and lunges at them while they dance until they are impressed with their routine. The male spider meets its death at the dancing ground. These dances or, in a sense, foreplay can go on for up to 50 minutes. Well, impressing one's partner during sex can take a lot.

Drink to that

Fertility is important if a couple is trying to conceive. The ovulation period in the menstrual cycle is the best time to conceive because the female is most fertile. Women use apps to track their cycles. There are also ovulation strips to check if that is the best time to have sex. Animals have various breeding cues to tell the best time to mate. Unlike other animals, giraffes do not have a specific mating season; females undergo a cycle similar to the human menstrual cycle, meaning they are more fertile at some point. Male giraffes determine whether a female is fertile to mate with her and increase the chance of conceiving. How do they know if a female is fertile? According to Chodosh (2017), male giraffes can know the female is fertile by tasting their female's urine. The male giraffe will tell if there are hormones indicating whether she is fertile or not. The lesson from the giraffes is that timing and knowledge are also key when trying to conceive.

Conclusion

Nature can teach people several things. Scientists have found ways to use what they learn from nature to better our lives. People can learn several things about sex to make use of from the Smithsonian Institute. Communication is key, and from what the Fiddlers crabs, commitment is important even if it means raising children as a same-sex couple like the albatross. Love means being all in and giving our all to our mates. People learn from the Praying mantis and the peacock spiders. Take the necessary steps when trying to conceive as the giraffes do.

References 

Boff, S. (2022). The Mating Behavior Of The Large-Head Resin Bee Heriades Truncorum (Megachilidae: Osminii) Suggests A Female Plastic Strategy In Selecting A Mating Partner And Male Quality Assessment. Apidologie, 53(1), 1-14.

Chodosh, S. (2017). Fun Facts About Giraffe Sex To Keep You Occupied While You Wait For That Giraffe Baby. Popular Science. Retrieved 1 June 2022, From.

Gorman, J. (2018). For Fiddler Crabs, 'Size Does Matter (Published 2018). Nytimes.Com. Retrieved 1 June 2022, From Lallensack, R., & J. Wu, K. (2020). Fourteen Fun Facts About Love And Sex In The Animal Kingdom. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 1 June 2022, From

Logue, D., & Grimes, M. (2022). Living Up To The Hype: How New Ventures Manage The Resource And Liability Of Future-Oriented Visions Within The Nascent impact investing market. Academy Of Management Journal, 65(3), 1055-1082.

Šekrst, K. (2022). Everybody Lies At Deception Levels In Various Domains Of Life. Biosemiotics, 1-16.

Taylor, M. (2022). How Birds Live Together: Colonies And Communities In The Avian World. Princeton University Press.