For those deep in the dating trenches, love and attraction can feel like uncrackable riddles. How do I make myself attractive to others? How do you know if someone’s into you? What should I look for in a partner — and how do I know if I’ve found “the one”?

On this episode, we train a scientific lens on the mysteries of love. We talk with psychologist Paul Eastwick about the latest research on attraction, relationships, and finding love; learn about how dating apps are transforming the courting process; and hear about two couples who found love in unexpected places.

Researcher Paul Eastwick discusses what fuels romantic attraction, why dating apps aren’t necessarily the best way to gauge compatibility, and what makes for a good and healthy relationship. Eastwick is the principal investigator for the attraction and relationships research laboratory at the University of California, Davis. His new book is “Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection.”
By most measures, Danielle and Kevin Robinson’s longtime marriage is what the kids would call “relationship goals” — they laugh constantly, share the same interests, and get along like a house on fire. But, in the beginning, not everyone thought they were a match — including Kevin. Pulse reporter Liz Tung tells the story of how they got together, and what their romance shows about compatibility, and different kinds of attraction.
When it comes to love stories, Celine Broeckaert and Frank Verstraete have a pretty unique one — they fell in love while writing a book about quantum physics. We hear the story of how the unlikely pair — Broeckaert a playwright and filmmaker, and Verstraete a quantum physicist — met, what it was about working on the book that bonded them together, and how the right partner can bring a new magic to the familiar. Their book is “Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics: The Story of the Science That Shapes Our World.”

Finding Your Match: The Science of Love and Attraction

The Pulse