Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John, Pawcatuck, CT — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:40:59 GMT

That solves that! propulsion engineer - 4 kids - 2 while using birth control.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Scot P-berg Iowa City Iowa — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:56:55 GMT

I think there is no doubt that heredity plays an important demise in an idividuals health and sperm
production. Maintaining a healthy life-style and giving your body proper care will increase your odds of having potentially better sperm. I believe that is inevitable!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Darly Joseph, Leesburg va — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:35:04 GMT

Absolutely not true, I have three girls age 4 months, 4 years old, and 6 years old. I was brainy as a kid, but due to the environement I did not do as well as my other peers, yet my three children have been lebel as geniuses. For example my 6 year old taken piano for two months and playing in front of a crowd of approximately 300 people, she did flawlessly. She memorized every key in " Good king wenceslas.My girls are amazing at everything.

Darly Joseph

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Wheels, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:52:23 GMT

I like that my appreciation of Radiohead is somehow indicative of my intellect (in the author's opinion anyway).

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

joe doe — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:04:09 GMT

sounds like a case for eugenics to me

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Bert,Kearny,NJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:17:10 GMT

sadly my sperm must be retarded.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

james chart, cincinnati ohio — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:28:13 GMT

is there an inbetween? like somewhat atheletic and smart?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Leonard Abrams, New York, NY — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:32:44 GMT

It may be that better blood circulation to the brain is linked with better health overall. In fact, why wouldn't it?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Ia Brueckman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:36:22 GMT

well I guess since my husband and I are both engineers our kids are set!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jk - DWP — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:50:58 GMT

I'm surprised that no e-mail option exists to allow me to forward either the article content or at least a hyperlink to this story.
Doesn't the MS in MSNBC stand for Microsoft.
What up ???

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

someone in New England — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:55:31 GMT

Oh goodness, no. My ex-husband is brilliant, but he is the poster child for borderline personality disorder. Our son has autism, about as severe as you can get. He's labeled as "nonverbal- behavioral" but he's still more pleasant to be around than his dad. He can type with support, and based on what comes out, we know that he has superior intelligence, too. Also on the "genius" side of the family, my ex father in law has attachment disorder, and the ex sister in law has bipolar, plus two children with ADHD oppositional-defiant and a third child with autism, though he functions pretty well if you don't rock the boat too much. So I'd say the sperm is maybe not so good.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Male Guy, Municipality, State — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:04:17 GMT

disagree. few things turn on an attractive, educated woman more intensely than intelligence. I've lived it. they're programmed to be attracted to it. of course the prerequisite is great wooing skills, which are independent of both hunkiness and conventional intelligence. (I say conventional because those skills are ultimately a function of intelligence, specifically EQ)

accept it Brian. or are we trying to fill a niche The Economist won't-champion of the average guy.

you know the Jack Welch method of annually purging the worst performing 10% of employees? I say we fry the dumbest 10% of the population every year and replace them with the smartest immigrants we can find from around the world.

oh wait, never mind. that'll make things more competitive for men. oh well. at least it would get us universal health care.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

De Jesus, Fl, Miami — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:11:58 GMT

Those who did this research were nerds in High School and College and this is the way they try to get even. Poor nerds, " what is this the revenge of the nerds."

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Leslie, — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:19:45 GMT

Huh, I have 3 children with a complete idiot! Luckily, he has a very low IQ or I could be the mother of 10
1

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Patricia Shannon, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:24:33 GMT

It's already established that poverty decreases average IQ thru social and biological means. Eg., poor nourishment before birth and in infancy can reduce permanently reduce a child's IQ.
Anybody who studies IQ should know this.
Is the ignoring of this in the above article due to ignorant researchers or ignorant reporting?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Don Stockstill, Ozark, Missouri — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:37:42 GMT

I fail to see why we undertake, much less publish such "research". A person is conceived because sperm and egg unite. One would wonder if similar "research" has been conducted on eggs. Is this the beginning of trying to couple people by intellegence and prevent the creation of others whose intellegence may be less. What if we ended up with a bunch of offspring with superior intellegence but less of other human traits such as compassion for others. I shudder to think what might happen to our world should this happen.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

cat, mission viejo,ca — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:47:16 GMT

I agree with the article. Genetically speaking, the offspring tends to have grey matter if both the male & female are from good stock & intelligence plays a factor in brain development of the child whose parents have healthy cells. Healthy sperm & female egg can create a highly intelligent human.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

New York City — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:48:15 GMT

I liked that Radiohead reference (or was it a jab?). http://www.funderoos.com

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Washington, PA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:59:08 GMT

Maybe geeks get less girls so they had to evolve better sperm to be sure to impregnate the few girls they get. The dumb jock hunks get to have so much sex that evolutionarily, they could afford to make sperm of lower quality, since quantitatively they get to spread it around more and still increase the chances of passing their genes to the next generation.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

jim, charlotte nc — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:17:10 GMT

Maybe they do, but they don't get a chance to use it.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

William, Jersey City, NJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:55:56 GMT

I'm not trying to relive "Glory Days" here, but I find it odd that you decided to stick it to the quarterback of all people. Having been one myself, as well as having been blessed with above-average intelligence, I would have to speak for all ex-quarterbacks in saying that they are "usually" one of the most intelligent players on the team. Perhaps you would have been better off pointing out the resident high school "badass" that doesn't end up making it to college? Either way, insightful information!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Wilberta Chandler Arizona — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:17:15 GMT

No, if that were true it would be a lot more smarter people around. There is no evidence that there are.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Stephanie the cheerleader — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:44:20 GMT

They never get to use it, so it stores and gets strong. Makes sense...poor nerds!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jennifer — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:26:25 GMT

This can't be true. To quote Green Day...only stupid people are breeding... How true is this!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Kansas City Lawyer — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:31:26 GMT

In 4 batteries of tests of my IQ from age 12 to age 42, it has been consistently meaured at between 142 and 150. In the one test of sperm quality at age 38, the doctor reported to my wife that it was "fabulous."

Showing the fragility and shallowness of the male ego, and the scars of having never been particularly athletic as a much too skinny kid in high school, I have much more pride in my sperm count. Sad, but true.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Linda — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:44:49 GMT

Way to go, smarty! Finally it's a good thing to be a smart guy. =) Smart guys don't finish last.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jonathan Falken — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:50:42 GMT

I have regularly seen articles and suchlike (no doubt aimed at adolescent males) that "breathlessly" promote the idea that women only like bodybuilders, and implying that unless one follows a strict diet and exercise regime etc. etc., then one is destined to die lonely and dateless or will at least somehow be less-of-a-man. The rational behind the articles is usually partly based on a neo-Darwinian theorizing that confuses 'inclusive fitness' of an individual as part of a species with 'personal fitness' such as one might see in a Gymnasium.

My understanding of current Evolutionary science is that a number of factors feed into 'inclusive fitness', whilst both 'personal fitness' and intelligence are theoretical optimum conditions.

To illustrate the point, we know that we have all evolved into our present condition from our ancestors, and that all currently existing human beings have different levels of personal fitness and different levels intelligence. Further, once one passes a threshold level of personal fitness and intelligence, then any further advances are simply a bonus, rather than a guarantee that your genes are better than someone else's. Certainly, SOME women prefer bodybuilders, and THOSE bodybuilders will have an evolutionary advantage with THOSE women. Just like SOME women prefer intellectuals, and THOSE intellectuals will have an evolutionary advantage with THOSE women.

Now, a person that has trouble catching their breath running for a bus is certainly at a disadvantage to the rest of the population, whilst a person that can't work out how to read the bus timetable is also at a disadvantage to the rest of the population. However, human beings live is a society, where we usually co-operate to help one another out.

Thus, if I'm not personally fit enough to lift heavy objects all day, I can pay someone to do it for me. Likewise, if I'm not intelligent enough to work out how much tax I should be paying, then I can pay someone to do that for me too.

So, I find it ironic that after Exercise fanatics have spent so long boasting that being in peak condition gives them some sort of added advantage over the rest of the population (and thus we should buy their exercise equipment/diet/whatever), that once the intellectuals get to have a brief moment in the spotlight there should be such an uproar.

To sum up, nobody gets any added advantage from spending hours lifting weights or filling out crosswords – unless they enjoy those respective activities in the first instance.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

dnendza@att.net — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:01:55 GMT

Interesting research and better commentary about how difficult it is to separate out the variables affecting the results.

But really, why be concerned about sperm motility or effectiveness. Living a life without natural children is perfectly fine. It's easier socially, financially and domestically. The time spent raising children can be invested in other interests. I never understood why couples HAD to have children. Sex, sure, but why suffer the aftermath. Oh wait, maybe there are religious reasons to burden yourself with undesired children. Next step, pro-lifers claiming childless couples are killing future potential children by not conceiving them.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Bill Potrzeebie, Princeton, NJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:31:09 GMT

I was a nerd and made out with Stephanie the cheerleader. I've actually seen my sperm on TV! Great motility, nice tails. My two kids are bright, artistic and brilliant. They are adopted from Russia. Who cares about your stupid sperm?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Dave Folsom, Ca — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:45:11 GMT

there's sure alot of beating around the bush on this topic. Dumb is dumb, and skewing the IQ scale to make those lacking feel better is beyond being PC; a sad result of the "no kid left behind" unsuccessful application

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Bonnie, Valencia, California — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:07:17 GMT

I hate that people are insinuating that people with higher IQs are worse looking than people with lower IQs. My husband has an IQ of 146 and is good looking. All this article is saying is that smarter men produce better quality sperm, not smarter children.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Dave, Austin, TX — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:11:04 GMT

If smart guys have better sperm, then why is the world declining ever more quickly into stupidity?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Ophelia, Mt. View — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:42:23 GMT

From "someone in New England", seems your ex husband and his family are ridden with diseases all over and it was passed down to your child. My ex had the same thing, and so did his sister(bipolar) and brother(not sure), and well, it didn't work out. I would avoid having children with someone who's family has such a history, as I don't want my children to have such problems. I know it sounds crude, but, I want the best possible option for my children to live on their own and not depend on others to hold their hand all their life.

As for this article, it matters not to me if the man is purely atheletic or purely brainy. If he can hold his own conversation and impress me based on personality and what he's got, then i'm all for it.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

EBEN ZETA GROOMLAKE NEVADA — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:19:43 GMT

ET DOSN'T HAVE NADDS?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Thankful Midwest Parent — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:54:56 GMT

Curious...Intelligent people I know (self included) who can't conceive, adopt lovely children from birth parents who could be considered as challenged.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

diana in CR — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:06:25 GMT

I might have to give up on this column. There's not much being hypothesized, and even less to back it up. Why do I keep falling for the catchy titles? I should know better by now. I do like brainy men, though. I suppose they're probably kind of stingy with their procreativity, and for lots of very smart reasons, but how nice that they exist. I only wish there were more of them.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

DX — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:42:58 GMT

Everything that we and our mates are goes into our children. If alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs go into the making of our children, how much more does our intelligence, and good qualities go into our children. There is a lecture and a huge subject everyone should study "How To Give Birth To A God"

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Keith, Miami, Florida — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:16:06 GMT

Everyone here assumes that smart people aren't also athletic. I played sports all my life and also scored at the top of my class. I also have 6 kids all at the top of their classes and also athletic. Lets not associate athletic with dumb and smart with nerd.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Mensa Smart Guy from Boston with Good Sperm — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:54:59 GMT

Its very simple Dave, there are precious few of us "smart guys" and billions of you not so smart guys thinking with the smaller brain between your legs. In addition, very smart fathers like myself often delay having children until much later in life.

<< If smart guys have better sperm, then why is the world declining ever more quickly into stupidity?
Dave, Austin, TX (Wednesday, December 17, 2008 6:11 PM)>>

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

shawn, alabama — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:39:32 GMT

Well the brain is, in fact, in charge. So why wouldn't a healthier brain mean a healthier body overall? It's simple common sense. Also it seems to me that healthier sperm in smart guys may be an adaptation to make up for the fact that the dumb guys get more chicks. In other words it ensures that the smart guys can keep up since the dumb guys have more times at bat.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

GENE — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:39:28 GMT

Well now we know which ones are constantly removing their sperm to be able to state these facts! what do you call it??? chronic __--???
well i cannot remember!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Paul, Richmond VA — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:34:38 GMT

Hey Jennifer - "only stupid people are breeding" is from Harvey Danger, not Green Day. I wonder if Green Day had any lyrics for people posting?

Sorry to be snarky - but your post was not exactly nice to the parents out there.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jared, wickliffe, ohio — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:55:27 GMT

Before taking sides and pitting genius versus jock, we should all be pretty much be aware of the social pyramid. More less intelligent people are having children because more quantity is required to fill the bulk of the less complex stations in society. Intelligent people generally make up the upper portions of the pyramid that require less people, it's all proportionate to the requirements of said society. We research men because that is our prime focus reproductively, getting the most opportunities to reproduce. This research is almost irrelevant, intelligent women are attracted to intelligent men, less intelligent women are attracted to less intelligent men whose physical stature equates to physical endurance in a physical work environment or in terms of pre-historic requirements, the ability to hunt, gather and protect. The more intelligent led the tribes and made tools but less were needed of those.

The same goes for this day and age, the thing that should be researched is a better way to bring these people together. Mediocre humans always have no problem finding other mediocre humans to mate with.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

TODD — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:16:27 GMT

I HAVE BEEN TEST 5 TIMES NOW IQ 146 NOT THE GREATEST LOOKING NOT IN BEST SHAPE. I HAVE GREAT SPERM. FIRST TIME TRING TO GET MY WIFE KNOCKED UP GOT HER PREG HAVE A VERY SMART 5 YR OLD ABOVE AVERAGE IQ.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Charlie, East Bay, CA — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:27:31 GMT

I agree with others who opine that athleticism doesn't necessarily equal lack of intelligence and vice-versa. Throughtout my school years I was always the best at every sport I participated in, always scored between 147 & 158 on IQ tests, was constantly at the top of the class (AS classes no less) in terms of grades and have done great with the ladies. I think it's just a matter of good genes that gives one the confidence to be the best at what they do. I just hope my career in nuclear engineering doesn't affect the goods.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

mm, edinburg tx — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:58:22 GMT

READ!!!--- SMART ONES... BRAINY GUY = GOOD SPERM NOT NECESSARILY BRAINY SPERM, DUH! GOOD SPERM = ONE THAT CAN SWIM FAST AND FERTILIZE THE EGG FIRST OR RIGHT AWAY! I wondered where your brains were...on vacation,maybe (as one of my students pointed out to another who was utterly off-tangent!)guys, this study does NOT generalized that athletic people are dumb, or that quarterbacks don't know anything, or whatever! of course there are guys gifted with/ or without both. Think!... or do you even? anyway, if you really are interested in having children with good genes, have your selected mate undergo the genetics tests, or better yet, go IVF and choose the perfect one...if there ever will be one! I'm just happy to be me...thanks to my parents...intelligent or otherwise..

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Ryan, Vienna VA — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:30:12 GMT

this slight correlation doesn't do it for me. I have above average IQ and without vain consider myself on the high end of the attractive scale --what I want to know is where I can get MY sperm checked out. I have high standards for how I'd like my future offspring to turn out and if my sperm happens to be lethargic or something I'll just go ahead and dash my hope of ever having children now.

...and Mensa Smart Guy should start thinking with his balls more. I think sex decreases pretentious, self-serving-comment postings, but I'm not a Doctor. Not quite smart enough.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Suzanne — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:14:14 GMT

Reminds me of the "Men at work" sign. When men work, they have to put up a sign. I have three boys (twins) and I don't need a study about my eggs to know that something wonderful happened and I will love my boys no matter what their IQ or sperm quality. Life is about people, all different kinds and we don't need studies to tell us how good or how bad we are.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Wife of a smart guy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:25:47 GMT

Hmmm, my husband is a genius but his sperm is low quality...and low count!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Pondering, Oregon — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:49:27 GMT

Smart guys... er, don't forget part of that attraction is your earning potential. Sure, you may not be as good looking, but many women won't be looking at you as much as what you can provide.

Seems like the earlier mention of military men/IQs seems to lend itself to a population with better physical health as well. I wonder if data was generated for a more 'average' population of men, without the corresponding requirement of a 'job' that likely req's a higher level of physical fitness than the average joe.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John Doe, seattle, wash. — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:09:28 GMT

The theory of natural selection would point out that the smarter of the species has the best odds of reproducing. Don't downplay the quality of the egg. It seems that the lower the IQ of the girl, the easier she is (sounds sexist, i know). The easier a girl is, the more she gets laid and the odds of pregnancy increase. Hey, I don't get it.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John Doh, Seattle WA — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:54:59 GMT

"This can't be true. To quote Green Day...only stupid people are breeding... How true is this!
Jennifer (Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:26 PM)"

Green day? It's Harvey Danger, you ironically dumb arse. You kinda prove Sean Nelson's point there, cheerleader... Like a poster child for birth control.

And while 'flagpole sitta' wasn't quite right, mensa smart guy has it closest: smart people are waiting, having fewer, and choosing mates more carefully. Dumb drunk hicks with nothing better to do than shoot skeet, drink Bud and date rape (strictly a random example, of course)- well, evolution aka mother nature, (or god, if you prefer) has decided that their sperm shouldn't be the best. Shocking. I applaud god and mother nature on their good taste and judgment.
And besides if you read the article, it doesn't say that brainy people are better/breeding more, the writer posits that people with high IQ's have better sperm. Not necessarily better babies. All that anti-abortion/anti-stem-cell-research rhetoric you've swallowed on Sunday (in lieu of something, er, saltier, no doubt) has tricked you into thinking sperm = embryo = baby. Sperm is just the chocolate chips in your cookie batter there, Sesame Street.
Please read the instructions on the condom box, will you?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:05:27 GMT

Jennifer. Obviously stupid people are breeding. That wasn't Green Day it was Harvey Danger.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Dan, Boston, MA — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:18:59 GMT

World recession, global downturn, unemployment rising as fast as the Yankees' salary bill, and they are spending money "investigating" who has 'better' sperm... what a joke

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Kevin, Chicago, IL — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:30:21 GMT

Wow, the battle of the anti-intellectuals vs. the proud geeks (me) is amazing. A question for the anti-intellectuals, though, why bother responding to this article if you disagree with it? Don't you realize that by debating a geek, you're just feeding them after midnight (that's a gremlins reference, thank you)?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

ty, honolulu, hi — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:42:08 GMT

I know plenty of smart parents who have completely moronic children. And vice versa.

I'm definitely going to increase my alcohol and pot consumption to dumb mine down a bit, just in case.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John Alexander, Chattanooga, TN — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:29:10 GMT

Holla at my nuclear engineer buds

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Joe, chicago, Illinois — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:59:05 GMT

To Wife of a smart guy: How do you know your husband is smart ? Does he bring home more than $100,000.00 a year ?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

josh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:11:21 GMT

So, if you play football, you're dumb... Nice.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Eric,Tx — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:03:49 GMT

I am not surprised it just means that our sperm has had to be more competitive to get to the egg in the past. We are only recently having intelligence play a larger part than our physical ability to earn and provide more.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

BillDo, Modesto, CA — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:28:50 GMT

re: Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Tco123 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:30:35 GMT

Unfortunately, stupidity is breeding stupidity at a faster rate than smart is breeding smart. The average intelligent family will have 2 kids per household, the unintelligent, lazy and poverty family has on average 4 kids, that is double the stupid people being born than smart. I know, I know, you have 15 kids and they are all brain surgeons, save the self indulgance, you are the exception to the rule, do not bother replying. Think about inner city vs suberbs and take your politically correct glasses off, you know its true. Think of stupid people you know, how many kids do they have

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Mamamela, Tucson, AZ — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:03:03 GMT

Arrogance = lack of emotional control and an inability to perceive the limitations of one's power = functional stupidity.

Given all the arrogant comments by the "Mensa" guys, I'd have to say they're probably not quite as bright in functional real-world terms as they think they are.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Thrilled Lady, Seattle, WA — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:52:15 GMT

What about best of both worlds? My guy is a genius and buff Marine. Somehow he managed to defeat the pill!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

a p garcia — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:56:23 GMT

Where are the "GIRLS" since my IQ is about 20-30 points above average and I like to consider myself an athletic/scollar.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Lyn — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:38:56 GMT

My younger son while in school was found to be above average and a gifted student, yet his sperm count is low. Sorry no match with the IQ!!! No grandchildren.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Inquiring Minds, Central Texas — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:54:38 GMT

I find this very interesting and I can see both sides or points of view here. It's almost like "...well, maybe, maybe not" is how you have to look at it. So many varying factors to consider to make a solid conclusion one way or another. HOWEVER, I have always questioned this in my mind: We know the effects of almost everything on a fetus/embryo/egg from the woman's side of it, as in pre-conception and pregancy. But it takes two, the woman and the man, egg and sperm to make a baby! So I would think that how a man cares for himself and his body would have a direct effect on the semen his body produces and therefore a great contributing factor to the baby he produces. I think more research should be done in this regard on men. For example, we know women shouldn't do drugs during preganancy because it causes various birth defects. Now, what about if the man does or has done drugs before impregnating the woman? What effects could that cause in the baby, if any? Very complicated and interesting stuff!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

father of three 140+ girls [not lbs.] Idahohum — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:54:23 GMT

the brood got all their brains from their mother; I still have mine.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Bob Doe, Boston, MA — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:27:54 GMT

Why worry about how fast the sperm can swim? Do they have to compete with somebody else's sperm? So (assuming the answer is "no"), even a slow sperm only has to beat his/her relatively slow pool mate to the egg. Who ever gets there first gets the egg. Fast race, or slow race. Who cares?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

NovemberTopaz — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:59:15 GMT

Some "jocks" are pretty smart. The problem is that they get so "distracted" by certain people in their lives that they do not always grow and develop intellectually. Parents can "distract" too; not just friends and loose women. Ultimately jocks may end up with damaged, low quality sperm because of STDs, alcohol, and taking poor care of themselves.

Fortunately for me my dad was a smart, muscle-bound jock who graduated at 16. He did not smoke or drink when he conceived me. And today, I'm dating a guy who was a star quarter-back in high school. He's an ex body builder....and has a very high IQ and bright children. However, I will always have a special place in my heart for nerds :)

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Michael, Charleston, SC — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:34:04 GMT

Amazing all the people who read this article and seem to not grasp what it's saying. It says that the sperm are better. Not that they'll make smarter children. So the sperm are healthier. This would probably result in them being able to travel a greater distance, at possibly a greater speed, live longer and possibly have better odds at penitrating an egg.

I must have missed the line written in invisible ink that said they produced genius children.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

smart and infertile, Mo. — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:19:46 GMT

I've never heard of a moron woman with infertility problems...just go to Wally World.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

S.M. Detroit, MI — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:37:52 GMT

Hmmmm... you know, my hubby tests as a genius- I was switching between birth control pills, only without contraception for a week, and am currently 12 weeks pregnant. His little guys were pretty determined once they were given a chance! Oh and he plays basketball and is a 6'4" dreamboat- chest like a rock =)! So I wonder if his genius sperm beat out his sporty sperm?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Antonio Armero, Lawrence, KS — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:10:52 GMT

Not True. IF smarter men produced smarter offsprings, G.W. Bush would be smart!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

b.b. Saunders — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:32:31 GMT

Having been married to a jock the first time around, I surely aimed for a brain the sencond time.Happy I did. Jocks kids, nice but a bit dumb, Brains kids, smart as einsteins....6 years of jocks, beer and stupid jokes, forgotten forever, 43 years of brains, I remember every word he uttered, even 4 years after he died.!!
Brains mean"never being bored again, ever!!"

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Josh, East Bay — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:30:38 GMT

I just wanted to say, I find it rather funny everyone who has posted more or less said they are super smart, as well as atheletic and charming. People are also throwing out "facts" and "research" like it was stones over a pond.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Capt Tom — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:44:31 GMT

I have 4 kids, all have genius IQ, all top performers in College and HS. Girls are all good looking and my son handsome. Course their mother is good looking and very smart... I hold a Blackbelts, swim, bicycle, dive and my IQ is 99th percentile...a MENSAN. I am smarter than I look...hmmmnn... Currently divorced...Ladies...

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Dr. James Ott, Hot Springs, Arkansas — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:25:22 GMT

A pretty bad article! Instead of saying, "there was a small link between higher IQ and better semen." It would have been so much better to state what % correlation existed between IQ and "better semen". Those of us who are intellegent enough to know what that means would then have then been able to figure out just how good our sperm is. Oh yea, it would have also been nice to explain exactly to what degree seman can be better.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

James Montegue, Tulsa, Oklahoma — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:34:50 GMT

It may or may not be true, but lets look at the guys who did this study. Obviously, they weren't the quarterbacks or star pitchers or best-scoring centers in their league. Obviously they are the guys who where smart in school, or else they wouldn't have this kind of job. It reminds me of a greek fable that I once heard. I think that maybe since these guys were the smart ones, their decision might have been influenced. I think it all depends on genes, and good health.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Marisa Schweikert, Brooklyn, N.Y. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:58:14 GMT

To the guy who said Absolutely not true. I was brainy as a kid but due to enviromental factors didn't do as well as others. " He goes on to say his 3 kids r really smart. U proved the point of the article. U were BORN smart. U were a smart kid right? Doing well in life and being intelligent r 2 very different things. Some of the biggest Morons r millionaires. Conversely u cld be brilliant and b/c ur a college professor u don't make that much money. Also, u said due to the enviromental factors. Enviromental factors have Nothing to do with intelligence. So everything u said basically proves this article to be true.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Chris,Commerce,Tx — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:27:08 GMT

I believe that I can safely say that anyone who reads this article and thinks of how smart their children are, or could grow to be is completely off topic of what the article is hopelessly trying to say.... Smart guy = good sperm, dumb guy = not so great sperm... It isnt good sperm smart kids, bad sperm dumb kids... tards.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Find the derivative. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:50:05 GMT

To be honest, I have yet to take any sort of IQ test-- but I wouldn't doubt it's above the 80th percentile. An interesting tidbit is I've been dating a cheerleader for a few months now. Booyah!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Susan Brown, Annapolis, MD — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:34:03 GMT

I think being brainy is great for men and isolating for women. Brilliance is statistically much more rare in women, so they have very few female peers. Females will tolerate a brainy dude because of the potential money they will make, they can lead the good life, hang around the pool and go shopping. But a man will be threatened by a women who's smarter, he wants someone who's willing to be submissive and will do what he tells her. Those women are so easy to find, why put up with the iconoclastic sort (otherwise known as a weirdo)? Women don't befriend brainy women because they have nothing to gain, they will look more mundane than they already are. Women are also threatened. The only time anyone has any use for high female intelligence is when they're trying to bully them into being teachers. That keeps females into the traditional "nurturing and supportive" roles, which doesn't threaten the status quo, and everyone's offspring gain from it. But what about the women who doesn't want to play the only role society has traditionally given gifted women permission to play? I think the brain pool of the human race stays stagnant because of the way very intelligent women are treated.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jeff, Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:38:48 GMT

I think that nutrition plays a huge part in producing quality sperm. A dentist named Weston A. Price wrote a book in 1939 titled "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" after he traveled the world looking for certain cultures whose diets had not been affected by modern agricultural methods and agribusiness marketing. All smart people need to read this one if they desire to increase their own health as well as the health of their offspring.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jennifer A. spring texas — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:49:41 GMT

It's clear we are all missing an important correlation here. Smarter people make wiser health choices. Higher IQ's also live longer, and are more likely to integrate healthy living choices. The article mentions the importance of nutrition and there is a direct link between environment and sperm quality i.e. nutrition, tight boxers, hot tubs, chemical exposure, etc. Sounds like these researchers are trying to lead the public down an path of hypothesis=assumption without looking at all causative factors. Bunk science.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Brainy Idiot, Minneapolis, MN — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:56:18 GMT

OOOOHHHHH NNNOOO!!!!!!

I have a few graduate degrees (Biophysics, Education, and Religion), an IQ of 140, I exercise regularly, and in a "Drunken New Years Moment" had unprotected intercourse with my girlfriend. This happens to coincide with her peak ovulation time.

So now I am sweating bullets until her expected period start date. I might be brainy, but I can make some horrendously stupid mistakes.

Now I find out I may have superhero sperm. Great, just when I need weakling sperm.

Oh well, I will know in a week or so how powerful my sperm really is.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Carrie, Pleasant Grove, UT — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:45:59 GMT

I have smart kids, but one is motivated and shows her smarts. (like me of course) My son is very smart and lacks motivation. (like his father) The genes are the culprit, not the sperm.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Daisy, Athens, TX — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:06:59 GMT

Not true, I have a close friend who is oncologist and her husband is a heart surgent, but they have mentally retarded and austistic children. However I have seen my neighbors who were farmers, factory workers whose children were successful doctors and college professors !

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:32:13 GMT

I thought all men were created equal!!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Mike, Escondido, CA — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:44:25 GMT

I think there is more to this argument than just sperm. Society is replete with stories of people have 'risen above their environment' and become very notable people in history. Some have even had parents severely lacking in the intelligence arena but raised their child(ren) with good morals, taught them good ethics, and raised them to believe that nothing could hold them down and they could become what they set their mind to. So, environmental surroundings and the role of parents in the lives of children can NOT be discounted. People who grow up in poor families, or even wealthy families, and are taught to live with a victim mentality or have that behavior modeled to them by parents and peers will probably have a lot to do with how they turn out as adults, sperm factors notwithstanding. I think it's a very complex mosaic but interesting, nonetheless. I happen to be a radar engineer and have three children. Two of them are brilliant; one has been diagnosed with ADHD and is a very student academically but is very smart in other ways. Is it sperm-related? Who can say? They ALL are who the Lord intended them to be and regardless of ANYTHING, they are my beloved children and I love them more than the world itself.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Another smart guy, Smallville, Maine — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:47:34 GMT

Keith said, "Everyone here assumes that smart people aren't also athletic. I played sports all my life and also scored at the top of my class. I also have 6 kids all at the top of their classes and also athletic. Lets not associate athletic with dumb and smart with nerd."

I just wanted to sound off with a hearty Amen. Being one type does not exclude us from being the other as well! Well said, Keith! This doesn't have to be an "either/or" discussion.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Jon, Greentown, Pa — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:12:16 GMT

I question sequential production. Does the contributor's number of "contributions" over the years (or day) affect it's quality? Is the quality generated after one million contributions the same as the first?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Ryan, Hudson, OH — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:54:29 GMT

This article describes the health and quality of sperm. It is not implying that if you have a high IQ you will produce superior offspring. What determines sperm quality and health is described in the article. So someone with a high IQ can still produce children with autisim the same as someone with a low IQ. It's simply saying that men who are intelligent find it easier to knock up their Star Trek loving girlfriends.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

jb Tampa Bay, Home of the 2009 Super Bowl — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:22:48 GMT

Why are so many idiots reproducing then????

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

renish, india — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:17:38 GMT

what about smart and intelligent guys wo smoke and drink ?

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

pablo Montagna, Newport Beach,california — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:30:28 GMT

PLEASE just tell me HOW in high heavens this article contributes to the literacy or advancement of skills and or intellect to those of us who click into it? Out all the scientific subjects crucial for our survival and improvement as people and as citizens... You Honestly believe this one tops all the rest off?? thanks for nothing!!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:55:38 GMT

I came from the Hood and have attained a good education...may not the best, but enough to notice the Ego trip most of you are on. In mountains one on one you can't match this Ex-navy man.

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

Mark — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:18:35 GMT

I think that IQ of parents can play a part. Me and my wife have 5 children; 1 she had from a previous relationship and 4 from me (2 of which while she was on the depo shot). All of them are healthy (Except that that they all love Snickers). The oldest learned how to play computer learning games at 2 years and by 3 could do simple program installation. Me and my wif thought that maybe he was smart (His father, whom I had known, in highschool was a smart man, but had a substance problem). When we had or next oldest, he learned as quick as the oldest, except he was more into legos and other building toys. My other children all learned computing and speach at a young age.

This can mean one of two things, one genetics and also out side stimuli. I went to college for nursing, but never completed (Regrets), served 6 years in the Army, learned networking and computer programming on my own, and currently in Law Enforcement. My wife is a stay at housewife (After several years of training) and never finished High School, but is quite smart, specially in math. Could I have passed my knowledge to may kids both through genetics or by teaching them.

All in All i think Forest Gump may have the best answer, "Stupid is as Stupid does".

And lastly we all know that watching Star Trek help boost sperm IQ!

Brainy guy, better sperm? Take that, tough guy!

John-Michael Glenn, Rogue River, Oregon — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:34:59 GMT

Well, for only being a senior in High School and being in Calculus and Honors classes, I'd say I'm doing well with the IQ bit. But another thing to take into consideration with the study is how well the male's performance is as well as size. If he can, well, do IT better and is bigger than average, he'll be able to please her better and be in further for when she has an orgasm (causing the walls to constrict at an attempt to pull the male in further) there is a smaller distance from the penis to the uterus which makes it easier for more sperm to make it to the egg.