By Stewart Tongue

YNOT – Sperm may have uses beyond reproduction and money shots, according to a team of Italian researchers. A study published in recent issue of the Journal of Materials Chemistry A argues DNA extracted from sperm makes an excellent flame retardant.

To test their theory, the researchers coated normal cotton fabric with DNA extracted from ordinary herring sperm, then exposed genetically enhanced cloth to fire. The results indicated the sperm-treated material was even more resistant to flame than material treated with products currently on the market for the purpose.

According to the researchers, DNA has a phosphate-rich backbone that produces phosphoric acid in the presence of heat. The phosphoric acid replaces water trapped in cotton fibers with a much more effective flame-inhibiting residue.

DNA also contains nitrogen and produces ammonia, both of which interact with the phosphoric residue to further inhibit combustion.

There’s a catch, though: Although sperm is much more environmentally friendly and available in greater abundance than commercial flame retardants, synthesizing the DNA into a usable form is three to five times more expensive than producing artificial safeguards.

However, if the idea catches on with the green set, bukkake producers may be able to overcome the economic effects of content piracy by selling the byproducts of their shoots.