There is a new Sperm-Killer out there and no, it is not a bacteria but it is an agent of modern technology: Wi-Fi.

A new study showed that using Wi-Fi could damage sperm and could decrease a man's fertility. This study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. The study had 29 semen samples from health volunteers and placed them under a Wi-Fi enabled laptop that is connected to the Internet. After exposing it for four hours, the semen showed signs of suffering. 25% of the sperm were no longer able to swim and 9% of the sample revealed DNA damage. On the other hand, another sperm sample was placed near a laptop that was turned on but was not connected to the Internet through Wi-Fi. In this sperm sample, there was only minimal damage. Another sample was then stored separately and this also showed minimal damage.

According to Conrado Avendano of Nascentis Medicina Reproductiva in Cordoba, the reason for this research result is because of Electromagnetic radiation generated during wireless communication. Argentinian researchers further explained the findings of the research study saying that "Our data suggest that the use of a laptop computer wirelessly connected to the Internet and positioned near the male reproductive organs may decrease human sperm quality. At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the internet or what use conditions heighten this effect."

This is not the first time a research study has tackled this kind of topic. Another research study published in early November revealed that the heat from holding a laptop on the knees (10-15 minutes) was enough to raise the testicle temperatures to dangerous and damaging levels to a man's sperm. Other research studies also showed that radiation from mobile phones causes a decrease in feeble sperm when conducting an experiment inside a laboratory.

Though these research results seem alarming, Dr. Robert Oates, the president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology does not believe that laptops are a significant health threat for the male reproductive health. According to Oates, these findings are not "real-life biology" and this is done in an artificial setting. He further added to this saying that "It is scientifically interesting, but to me it doesn't have any human biological relevance."