Justin Garcia is a sex researcher who visited a brothel in Nevada as part of his work. It was called the White Whale, or the Girlfriend Experience. The manager explained that sex wasn’t necessarily part of what was on offer, but “you’ll get a hell of a cuddle.” This week: why the need for intimacy is vital for our wellbeing and has helped us survive as a species. It’s a question that Garcia explores about in his new book, The Intimate Animal: the Science of Sex, Fidelity and why we Live and Die for Love.