Online dating can feel like drudgery… can science help you game the system? And do those matching algorithms actually work? To find out, we talked to psychologist Asst. Prof. Paul Eastwick, social psychologist Prof. Viren Swami, mathematician Asst. Prof. Hannah Fry, and Rose Reid.

Check out the transcript right here. 

Selected references: 

• Paul’s primer on speed dating experiments, and the Machine Learning study
• The study with the archaeology students on physical attractiveness
• Hannah’s book, which includes more detailed Optimal Stopping Theory maths
• A thorough review paper on online dating

Credits: This episode was produced by Odelia Rubin, with help from Wendy Zukerman along with Rose Rimler, and Meryl Horn. Our senior producer is Kaitlyn Sawrey. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Michelle Harris, Meryl Horn and Rose Rimler. Mix and sound design by Emma Munger. Music by Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. A huge thanks to all the researchers we got in touch with for this episode - including Dr Elaine Hatfield, Dr Liesel Sharabi, Associate Prof Megan Ankerson, Assistant Prof Sarah Murray, Jennie Zhang, and the folks at okcupid. Thank you! We had recording help from Robbie MacInnes, Emma P. McAvoy Sherrie White, and David Mistich Also thanks to Frank Lopez, Erin Kelly, Matthew Nelson, Amber Davis, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson!