Nail Varnish That Changes Colour When It Touches Date Rape Drugs
Undercover Colors has been created to change colour when it comes into contact with Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB - drugs commonly used to incapacitate women before sexual assault
A nail varnish has been created that could help protect women against sexual assualt.
Undercover Colors polishes look just like a normal nail varnishes, but when they come into contact with drugs commonly used in date rape scenarios, Rohypnol, Xanax and GHB, they change colour, warning the wearer that there's something dodgy in her drink.
Of course it's not the potential victim of sexual assult's responsibility to prevent it happening. But these drugs are odourless, colourless and flavouress, making it nigh-on impossible to tell if it's been slipped into your drink, regarless of how carefully you're watching it.
The company explains on its Facebook page: "Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime.
"With our nail polish, any woman will be empowered to discreetly ensure her safety by simply stirring her drink with her finger. If her nail polish changes color, she'll know that something is wrong."
Created by a team of students at North Carolina State University, the varnish is still in experimental phases, but has already won awards and raised $100,000 (£60,000) towards development.
On its Instagram page, United Colors said: "Right now we're in an early phase of research and development, and haven't yet launched our product. Continue to follow us on social media for our latest updates."
On social media it's already garnered an excited response.
Instagram user maddlamb commented: "I absolutely cannot wait to get a bottle as soon as it's available! Ingenious idea... I know I'll definitely feel more safe while having a good night out!"
The team of four - Tyler Confrey-Maloney, Stephen Gray, Ankesh Madan, and Tasso Von Windheim - came up with the idea after it emerged all of them new someone who had been affected by this sort of violence.
And as nearly one in five women will suffer sexual abuse at some point in their lives, they felt it was vital to create a tool to fight back.
On its Facebook page, the creators explain: “All of us have been close to someone who has been through the terrible experience, and we began to focus on preventive solutions, especially those that could be integrated into products that women already use. And so the idea of creating a nail polish that detects date rape drugs was born."
They add: "While date rape drugs are often used to facilitate sexual assault, very little science exists for their detection. Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime."
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