Researchers predict a collapsing birth rate.
By Raif Karerat
While the planet is heating up, our sex lives may not be.
Newly released research suggests that as the planet’s temperature increases, people may feel less inclined to have sex.
Researchers from Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of Central Florida and UC Santa Barbara have predicted a collapsing birth rate and “reduced coital frequency” as the temperature of the planet increases.
The research reveals that nine months after a particularly hot day, the birth rate reduces significantly, coming in 0.7 per cent lower than it would following a cooler day.
“Extreme heat leads to a sizeable fall in births,†the researchers said. “Temperature extremes could affect coital frequency. It could affect hormone levels and sex drives. Alternatively, high temperatures may adversely affect reproductive health or semen quality on the male side, or ovulation on the female side.â€
In order to draw their conclusions the research team studied 80 years of fertility and temperature data from the U.S. and also found that when the weather tops 26.6°C (80°F), the birth rate suffers a large decline in the months that follow.
“The decline in birth rates is a very serious issue for countries, like the United States and the U.K., which have below-replacement birth rates,†said Alan Barreca, an associate professor at Tulane University who carried out the research in tandem with academics from the University of Central Florida and the University of California Santa Barbara. “This will put a lot of strain on social insurance programs, like social security, because it will create large imbalances in the make-up of the population.