Bill Gates Funds Development of Graphene Condoms

Condoms made of graphene could be the next generation condoms. The Microsoft tycoon and philanthropist Bill Gates, is offering $100,000 to a team of UK scientists to develop the next generation safer condoms-'graphene condoms'. 

A team of researchers at The University of Manchester received a $100,000 funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the next generation contraceptive- graphene condoms. These condoms are believed to be thin, strong and at the same time have the ability to provide natural sensation.

By developing a new composite material mixing both graphene and latex, researchers will develop the next generation contraceptive. Graphene- the world's thinnest and strongest material will help in making thinner and stronger condoms and latex will retain the elasticity of the condoms. This new material will produce a safer contraceptive that makes it more desirable to use.

The conductive lightweight material graphene is used in a wide range of applications such as computer chips, non stick pans, food packaging and smartphones. It was back in 2004 that the transparent material graphene was discovered by Sir Andrew Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov at the University of Manchester. This grabbed them a Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010.

With the use of the material in a wide range of applications, a material scientist Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan at the University of Manchester strongly believes that the material can be used to developed condoms that offer more pleasure as well safety. Also the material will be a part of everyday life in a very intimate way.

"This composite material will be tailored to enhance the natural sensation during intercourse while using a condom, which should encourage and promote condom use," Dr. Vijayaraghavan was quoted in The Telegraph.

It was in March 2013, that the foundation had announced its Round 11 of its Grand Challenges Explorations initiative. The grant program aims at encouraging lives of the poorest people around the globe.

With more than 750 million users, the rate of global production of condoms is just 15 billion units per year.

Earlier reports by Gawker stated that, it has been for the last 400 years that condoms have been used but with little or no modification done to it. The grant aims at developing newer condoms that can enhance pleasure as well as reduce sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.