Inside the body, sperm can live for up to 5 days - that's like, a whole weekend of fertilization possibilities! But outside, it's a different story. The lifespan of semen can range from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the conditions. That's like, the difference between a firefly's glow and a long-lasting candle.
On a cotton cloth or a dry surface, semen can survive for around 15-30 minutes - just enough time to, you know, get a paternity test or something. But if it's on a more absorbent material, like a towel or a cloth diaper, it's more like 5-10 minutes. That's like, the time it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn.