Key to 'Gaydar': Facial Symmetry?

Wondering why you instinctively consider someone gay or straight? Try looking at the shape of the person's face. A new study says that people who identify as straight have a more symmetrical face than those who identify as gay. Researchers found this out by having 40 subjects identify the sexuality of 60 people after looking at their photographs, ScienceDaily reports.

"We were surprised to find that symmetry played a larger role than masculine/feminine features in assessing sexual orientation," says the lead researcher, who notes that "the ability to assess the sexual orientation of others may be an adaptive trait. In terms of mate selection and romance, it's crucial to recognize" sexual orientation. (More psychology stories.)