hold onto your hats ;-)

From: nanowave (nanowave@shaw.ca)
Date: Thu Feb 06 2003 - 00:48:49 MST

  • Next message: Max M: "Where the I is"

    The recent discovery that sperm use temperature guidance or "thermotaxis" to
    navigate the fallopian tubes and locate the egg[1] has led to a landmark
    collaboration between Hughes Aircraft Corporation, makers of the AH-64D
    "Longbow" Apache helicopter[2] and Organon, developer of the NuvaRing
    Vaginal contraceptive device[3] to produce the first "heat shielding
    contraceptive capsule" (HSCC).

    The birth control pill sized capsule makes use of gastrointestinal acoustics
    as well as an undisclosed form of microfluidic propulsion to outpace the
    sperm to the target egg whereupon it is mechanically enveloped. A series of
    lateral vents are then employed to dissipate the egg's heat thereby
    disguising it's IR signature and confounding the sperm's internal guidance
    systems.

    A company insider at Organon claims that it's a design which has been on the
    drawing boards for several of years but which has been delayed for lack of a
    suitably small energy source - a deficiency which has now been overcome[4].
    Although the device is still in the field testing stage, engineers from both
    companies are already collaborating with the Black Flag Corporation[5] to
    develop a complimentary device which does not travel to the egg, but which
    remains within the vagina radiating a comparatively large IR signature of
    its own. It is hoped that the sperm will be attracted to this artificial IR
    source which comprises numerous microscopic orifices through which the sperm
    may only pass in one direction.

    Asked whether these revolutionary new devices will be able to economically
    compete with more conventional forms of birth control, a Hughes Aircraft
    spokesperson replied: "The key issue is perhaps not so much that these
    devices will cost more, but the important scientific breakthroughs they
    represent along with the projected commercial spin-offs we are likely to see
    materializing over the course of the next few years."

    [1] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/02/030203071703.htm

    [2] http://www.jolly-rogers.com/airpower/ah-64d/64d-str.htm

    [3] http://www.organon-usa.com/authfiles/index.asp

    [4] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/02/030205073254.htm

    [5] http://www.keysan.com/ksupe10a.htm

    Russell Evermore



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu Feb 06 2003 - 00:53:48 MST