Behold the amazing new invention by some British teenagers: condoms that signal the presence of STDs by changing colour.
What were you doing when you were 13? Maybe running around or hanging out with your friends, but surely not going around developing condoms. And why not? It is an important concern, and taking active steps to protect yourself against the perils of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is the cornerstone of safe and enjoyable sex.
Called S.T. EYE, the condom developed by three British schoolchildren contains chemicals which glows when it comes into contact with certain pathogens. It turns green for chlamydia, purple for the human papillomavirus (HPV), yellow for herpes, and blue for syphilis. The name itself is an agglomeration of acronyms, with S standing for sexually, T for transmitted, and EYE meaning eyes.
For their innovative breakthrough, the team was awarded a prize in London’s Teentech Awards’ health category, a competition hoping to inspire teens to strive for greater heights in STEM fields. According to the kids, they want to make the detection of STDs easier and safer, without needing the intervention of a doctor. After all, doctor appointments can isolate people who need detection the most due to affordability and social acceptance issues.
The condoms are currently still a prototype so we don’t know when they’ll hit the markets, but one thing’s for sure – these brilliant schoolchildren are the result of sex education done right.
