Photo credit: Teen Tech Awards
STI checks are incredibly important, but they can be a bit awkward. You also have to go pretty out of your way to get one.
But now some kids have invented a condom that could save you from trudging to the GP (or at the very least, give you some extra peace of mind).
Yep, you could combine sexy fun times with a responsible health check… although the fun times might become not-so-fun really quickly, depending on the result.
The winning entry at London’s TeenTech awards (a science competition for 11-16 year olds), the super condom design changes colour if it detects an STI.
It also glows a different colour depending on the infection it comes into contact with (I can’t decide whether this is really cool or completely gross).
So how does it work? Well, it has a layer of special molecules on it which attach to the bacteria or viruses of different infections.
Can we just stop and appreciate that a group of 11-16 year olds came up with this?!
I think a round of applause is in order for Muaz Nawaz, Daanyaal Ali, and Chirag Shah from the Isaac Newton Academy.
Showing insight well beyond his years, Daanyaal, 14, said:
“We wanted to make something that make detecting harmful STIs safer than ever before, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes without the invasive procedures at the doctors.
“We’ve made sure we’re able to give peace of mind to users and make sure people can be even more responsible than ever before.”
If Daanyaal’s rationale isn’t enough to convince you, the condom also has a really funny name: S.T.EYE (lol).
Just FYI, it wasn’t the only awesome submission in the competition.
Another top one was a hairclip that changes colour to match what you’re wearing.
It also has WiFi (you know, so you can google hair how-tos on the go).
The hairclip probably isn’t as beneficial an invention as the S.T.EYE, but we’re hoping both entries make it to market, ASAP.
Do you think this condom sounds as beneficial as we do? Do you get regular STI checks, or is it something you need to be pressured into?
