Packet of 3 gas permeable membranes please
I've been reminded by some of these posts of some research I did many years ago.
I was working with a University team who were developing rinky-dink gas sensors that were intended for eventual use on humans. Now we were using some technology that required a gas permeable membrane.
"It must be teflon" said the boss. "We can't get any for a fortnight " sez me.
I was pondering what to do when I had a brainwave. Before teflon, other people had used latex membranes.
Where do I get latex membranes on a university campus?
Answer: Students union bar. Gents toilets vending machine to be precise.
£2 later I was in posession of the required materials, however, the did need processing to remove the manufacturers additives, such as spermicidal lubricant. Well its water soluble, so I decided to wash it off. In the lab. Where 60 undergraduates were working. Try explaining that one. What was worse was the looks on some young ladies faces when I started cutting holes in them so they'd fit the mountings.

So yep durex has a medical use that can help save lives.

Length? Pretty standard, but if it was too long I had a pair of scissors handy!
(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 11:52, 4 replies)

Oh Yes
We've used condoms as well as part of our kit. We sent on of the students to the health centre to pick some up. He had to fill in a form explaining why he needed 60 "no lube, ultra tough" bum sex johnnies.
(Rakky (forgot her password) The muffin maverick, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 12:53, closed)

Is there any reason
why gloves wouldn't do?
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 15:46, closed)

It was a hardcore Chemistry lab
So if we needed gloves they'd be marigolds or the heavy duty neoprene. Those were too thick.
The thin latex jobs weren't up to it either.Still too thick and rip at the first sign

Johnnies are better for this as they are tested for tensile strength and are designed to be as thin as possible.

It also really winds up undergrads, so *WIN* (x2)
(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Wed 26 Aug 2009, 20:14, closed)

Ah
I'm just a poncy physicasl chemist so all we do if make graphs and look at them and go hmmmm. No need for gloves there! Why would it wind up the undergrads? I'm still an undergrad (technically - about to do my masters year so don't feel like one much any more) and I find it hilarious...
(Petite chien is going to do science to it, Thu 27 Aug 2009, 12:17, closed)