Introducing the Condom Every Guy Will Be Begging to Wear

In a pilot study supported by $100,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—yup, that Bill and Melinda Gates—scientists developed condoms made from hydrogel, which is made with water and held together by molecular chains called polymers. They’re calling it the GELdom (catchy!), and it’s thinner and stronger than the typical condom.

‘It’s really unusual to touch,” cognitive neuroscientist Joseph Ciorciari told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It feels like real human tissue, like when you’re touching someone, but they’re covered in a lubricant.”

GELdoms have also been tested for pleasure…because #science. During the study, scientists asked people to touch test five materials, including the hydrogel material, while they were hooked up to a brain scan machine that measured the electrical activity in their brain.

Researchers say the hydrogel material was the only one that caused a strong hot spot in the right front of the brain, suggesting people were into it. (They did brain scans because it removed the chance that someone would feel awkward or embarrassed about saying they dug GELdoms.)

While they haven’t actually studied how it feels during sex, scientists are hopeful that GELdoms will eventually hit the market and lead to increased condom use in Africa, where HIV is a serious health problem. (And hopefully, it’ll land on shelves in your local drug store, too.)

Researchers plan to start phase two of the trial early next year. In case any of them are reading this…we volunteer as tribute!