Twisting science to have your fantasy pissing contest with political opponents is inexcusable, no matter where it's coming from. In fact, scientists are studying the correlation between mood and testosterone in an effort, of course, to improve the emotional and reproductive lives of men. They are gathering data (thus far inconclusive but very promising) to demonstrate that emotional reactions to events directly impact hormone production.

It was awfully clever for scientists to select voters in a national election for study because they knew, going in, they could count on an entire group reacting powerfully to a single event, and it would be a fabulous way to see what, if any, effect it had on testosterone levels. The results showed that testosterone levels dip when men experience feelings of loss, defeat, grief. This correlates to earlier studies showing spikes in testosterone related to feelings of victory and dominance, which are also in line with studies of other species. It's a magnificent piece of data which will, in years to come, contribute to drugs and treatments to assist men in maintaining better emotional and physical health. It's endocrinology, baby. It's the real shit.

Meanwhile, another fact: lowered testosterone doesn't make a man less of a man. It doesn't make you a "girlie-man," which is patriarchal snark for gay. Lower testosterone can, however, make you a man with dampened energy and diminished appetite for life. Getting fired could lower your testosterone. Losing a ball game too. And, after age 40, testosterone levels naturally begin to drop in a significant percent of men -- including, probably, some of the ones who were giggling over this yesterday.