Like" us on Facebook.com/TrendingNow and follow Trending Now on Twitter: @Knowlesitall and @YahooTrending
The newest trend in matchmaking has little to do with physical attraction. People are being paired based on the way they smell. Skeptical? Well, you might want to try attending a pheromone party. Pheromones are chemicals secreted by the body's glands, and they influence the mood and behavior in others of the same species.
Twenty-five-year-old Judith Prays, an Atlanta-based artist, created the idea of pheromone parties to help people find love. Prays said, "It's about romance. Intellectual connection is not always the most important thing in a relationship."
Here's how it works: Singles attending the bash are instructed to sleep in the same T-shirt for three nights, and then store it in a plastic bag in the freezer to maintain the scent. Then, participants bring their shirt in the bag to the meet-up. The bags are marked with numbers and labeled pink for women and blue for men. Participants browse the shirts, take a few whiffs, and then choose the one they find most appealing. They are photographed while they do so, and then the photographs are displayed. Strangers then introduce themselves to each other based on who is pictured with their shirt.
Although pheromones do not give off an actual odor, the body is able to process them and create a chemical reaction in the brain.
Web reaction has been mostly positive. One person tweeted that this new way of biological dating is "fascinating," and another said she believes it's possible to sniff your way to love. Some people remain skeptical. One person said she is not sure if she should follow her heart or her nose.
The first pheromone party took place in New York in 2010. At another one, in Los Angeles on April 5, more than 100 people showed up. Who knows, there could be one near you in just a matter of time. You'll smell it coming.
____________________________________________________________________
A South African soldier who lost an arm in combat in Afghanistan has set his sights on climbing the highest mountain in the world. Pvt. Jaco Van Gass says he will not let anything stop him from making his way to the top of Mount Everest. He has designed an ice-pick prosthetic that attaches to his amputated arm. The prosthetic will help him climb the mountain while keeping his other hand free. In addition to helping him stay secured to the side of the icy surface, the prosthetic has a heating device that will help blood flow in his arm and prevent him from getting frostbite.
Last year, Van Gass visited the North Pole with Walking With the Wounded, a British charity that helps rehabilitate injured soldiers. After the journey, he came up with the idea to attach an ice pick to his arm. He then sought engineers to help him design the final prosthetic that he now intends to use in his climb.
Van Gass and five other wounded soldiers plan to accomplish the feat in May.