Asymmetry and attractiveness: Facing the facts

SYMMETRY has long been associated with perfection in both art and nature. In particular, research conducted over the past two decades has shown that symmetry is sexy. People prefer potential lovers to have symmetrical faces--the more so they are, the better.This observation is now well established. Indeed, some biologists would go further and say that symmetry between other bodily features, such as hands, is also preferred. What remains unknown is why.The usual assumption is that bodily symmetry...