Canadian researchers have invented a drink stirrer that, according to them, can detect if a beverage has been tampered with.
After 12 years of research and development, researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada have created a drink stirrer that they claim can detect if a drink has been spiked.
Named “Spikeless“, the stirrer was designed to detect common drugs that are odorless and tasteless, such as GHB and ketamine, which are often used by sexual predators. The stirrer looks like a regular one but has a tip that changes color within 30 seconds when exposed to any of these substances.
Dr. Johan Foster, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at UBC, and his brother Andrew came up with the idea in 2012. They envisioned a tool that could be discreetly carried or provided by bars and restaurants upon request.
As explained by Samin Yousefi, a master’s student in chemical and biological engineering at UBC and co-inventor of the device, the danger of having your drink tampered with exists in many places: “Anywhere there’s a bar — clubs, parties, festivals — there’s a risk,” she said.
Speaking to CBC News, Sasha Santos, anti-violence activist and advisor to the project, highlighted the importance of a tool like Spikeless to help protect those seeking a safer night out.
“In the anti-violence space, you know, there are strong feelings about people who are targets of violence being told that the burden of safety is on them — that they have to invest in their own protection,” she said.
Currently, the UBC team is preparing the product for real-world testing and trials with Health Canada. They are also launching a startup to produce and commercialize Spikeless.
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