But the team will not set foot on the Moon, much less surpass half-century-old space travel achievements. And even if such formidable hurdles can somehow be overcome and human colonies established, their sustainability faces another potential barrier: sperm does not seem to swim properly in space, according to scientists at the University of Adelaide. The researchers put samples through a simulation mimicking both the female reproductive system and the zero-gravity conditions of space and found that the usually inerrant swimmers quickly lost their bearings. In 2023, scientists uncovered another potential hurdle for extraterrestrial human reproduction - one that would prevent sperm from even getting the chance to get lost en route to a waiting egg. A Florida State University team published indications that space travel could undermine erectile function.

Source: The Star April 07, 2026 15:02 UTC