The piece reflects on the concept of love across species, exemplified by interactions between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens around 50,000 years ago. The author imagines a scenario where these different groups met, communicated, and possibly engaged in romantic relationships, leading to offspring that contributed to modern humans' genetic make-up. This thought experiment serves to illustrate the universal nature of love, transcending barriers of species.

However, a recent scientific study published in *Science* has added a surprising twist to this narrative. It reveals that the interbreeding between Neanderthals and sapiens was predominantly asymmetrical, with more instances of Neanderthal men mating with Homo sapiens women rather than vice versa. This finding challenges the romantic notions of equal attraction between the two groups and suggests a complex social dynamic at play, potentially rooted in the behavior and choices of these early humans.

Despite the asymmetry in interbreeding, researchers urge that prevalence does not imply preference, indicating that Neanderthals did not necessarily have a special preference for sapiens women. This scientific insight speaks to the complexities of human evolution and prompts reflections on the nature of attraction, love, and how societal structures may have influenced early human relationships, leaving a lasting imprint on the modern human genome.