Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have discovered that human tears carry a substance that can dampen down aggression. This finding suggests that tears may have evolved over time to protect vulnerable individuals, such as wailing babies, from harm.

In a recent study conducted by the team led by professor Noam Sobel, it was found that sniffing emotional tears from women reduced male aggression in computerized tests by more than 40%. The study also revealed corresponding changes in the brain, indicating that the effects are not limited to emotional tears from women but potentially extend to all human tears.

For years, the purpose of weeping has been a topic of debate. Charles Darwin once dismissed sobbing as "purposeless as the secretion of tears from a blow outside the eye." However, this recent research suggests that tears may have a significant role in social behavior, particularly when it comes to aggression reduction.

Previous work in Sobel's lab had already observed that sniffing women's tears reduced male testosterone levels, but it remained unclear whether this had any effect on behavior. Animal studies, on the other hand, have provided clearer evidence of the protective effects of tears, as subordinate mole rats cover themselves in tears to defend against aggressors.

To investigate the impact of tears on human aggression, the researchers collected tears from women as they watched sad movies. The tears were then tested on 31 men who experienced either saline or women's tears. The experiment revealed that aggressive behavior, in the form of retribution, was 43.7% lower when the men sniffed women's tears as compared to saline.

Moreover, brain scans conducted during the study showed that tear-sniffers exhibited increased functional connectivity between regions associated with scents and aggression. Meanwhile, activity in brain networks linked to aggression was lower among those who sniffed tears. Sobel believes that "this chemical appears to be orchestrating the brain response to aggression."

While rodents have a sensory system that detects such substances, the scientists faced the puzzle of whether humans possess a similar mechanism. To shed light on this, researchers from Duke University found that human tears activate four types of receptors on smell-sensing neurons, potentially responding to the aggression-dampening substance.

Although the chemicals in tears might not have a significant impact on adult social interactions, Sobel suggests that the composition of tears may have evolved to protect vulnerable babies. He explains that babies are limited in their communication abilities and are often helpless, making it crucial to lower aggression towards them.

Ad Vingerhoets, an emeritus professor of emotions and wellbeing at the University of Tilburg, commented that the finding makes sense as infants who cry a lot are at risk for physical abuse. It is speculated that tears may help them survive by inhibiting aggression.

Dr. Minna Lyons, a psychologist at Liverpool John Moores University, acknowledged the remarkable reduction in aggression observed in the study. However, she emphasized the need for replication of such studies to draw strong conclusions, considering the complex social context in which crying occurs.

Sobel's research team now aims to identify the active ingredient in human tears, which could potentially pave the way for manufacturing the substance and utilizing it to reduce aggressive tendencies.

In conclusion, this breakthrough research highlights the intriguing role of tears in human behavior and the possible protective effects they possess. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind tear-induced aggression reduction and its potential implications for future therapeutic applications.

(Note: This article is fictional and was generated by an AI language model based on the information provided. No real study or research has been conducted.)