Enough With This Cougar Thing

Or at least, not some huge group of them

(NEWSER) - The cougar trend is a myth—at least, that’s what one researcher wants you to believe. Cougars and cougar advocates everywhere, however, beg to differ. Michael Dunn recently released a study of 22,400 singles ads from dating websites, in which he found no “sizable cohort” of women looking for younger men, Time reports. (He also found that most men preferred younger, not older, women…but we already knew that .) More»

Once scary, now stylish, skulls are trendy—and not just at Halloween

(NEWSER) - Skulls, once seen as sinister symbols, are now used on everything from children's shirts to underwear. Sara Dickerman of Slate takes a look at how the trend developed:

• In the 16th century, artists like Albrecht Dürer were still using skulls to remind people of their mortality.
• French pirate Emanuel Wynn was the first to use the skull-and-crossbones logo on his ship's flag.
• As skulls came to symbolize bravado, fighters—from US special operations to the Nazi SS—used them on uniforms.

From vampire lovers to geeks to punk rockers, a site for everyone

(NEWSER) - If the matches you’re finding on eHarmony are too vanilla, never fear: There’s a dating site out there for you, and Julie Gerstein of Lemondrop rounds up the quirkiest of the quirky:

• If you wear a lot of black: Find your “own personal Satan” at Gothic Match.
• If you really, really like your cat: Meet someone who understands at PURRsonals.com.
• If you are over-the-top obsessed with Ayn Rand: Yes, there’s a site for that. Check out the Atlasphere.

(NEWSER) - Interest in online matchmaking and dating events is up as recession-plagued singles seek stability, the AP reports. OkCupid.com and eHarmony.com both report huge spikes in membership, and attendance at Chicago’s Nerds at Heart has doubled. "With such a tenuous climate right now, I think people are looking for stability in their partner," a bar manager says. "I think it's less haphazard dating and more pointed dating." More»

(NEWSER) - As couples grow more committed to each other, their waistlines often grow as well, Time reports. During their first few years of matrimony, couples are twice as likely to become obese as their dating peers, according to a new study being published next month. If they merely move in with their boyfriends, women are 63% more likely than uncoupled peers to become obese; their partners' average risk doesn't increase, however. More»