Science!: Vodka Pills, Black Holes and The Pill for Men

[DazZ.]

If those alcohol pills become commercially available I see the number of alcohol related death skyrocketing. Popping a few pills would make alcohol poisoning far too easy. It would be cool if they made them slow releasing or something, otherwise they would probably be pretty harmful.

How would slow releasing be better?

After popping 5:
"These aren't working, I might have to take a few more."
After popping 5 more:
"...osdoer ayyyyy? rarg."

Slow releasing, as in it would gradually get you drunk over the course of the night. So it wouldn't just be, pop 5, pass out and hit your head on the coffee table. It would at least give your body time to get accustomed to the alcohol rather than just put you into shock.

But then the situation of "these aren't working I must need a some more" arises, meaning you end up taking more than you would need, and people who take more than they need are usually the people who don't know what they are doing and take way more than they need.

Neither situation is good, but I thought the point of these pills were to take exactly as much as you thought you needed, not for it to slowly hit you so you don't know when your as drunk as you're going to be. If you want slow releasing, just drink.

 

[SaintWaldo]

Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking of this as a romantic comedy of epic proportions? Hugh Grant's black hole creates soulmate (portrayed by Kate Hudson); soulmate remains distant and aloof while being pursued; black hole and galaxy finally reconcile and unite to be as one, with comic relief provided by Rupert Everett. And then the black hole eats its soulmate. Hmm..maybe more of a dramedy.

1. It is indeed just you. Don't ever let that stop you.

2. Grant wouldn't eat Hudson, Hudson would simply explode but lack the gravity to become a black hole of her own and therefore just evaporates, leaving poor Hugh Grant Black Hole to find the nearest quasar call-girl and spend his depressingly charismatic evenings shagging endlessly while "Lair of the White Worm" plays on loop in the background. Still a comedy, just not very romantic.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

The man "Pill" - Bugger that, i like my ballroom full of dancers.

Gosh, I was not prepared for that eufemism!

 

[Jared]

Four words.

[HEADING=2]I. WANT. THESE. LENSES![/HEADING]

Or at least similar sunglasses.

Same! It would be so awesome! I could walk around and get tons of information straight to me, and not look like I am doing anything at all!!!

Great invention!

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I love the little idea at the end of the black hole article
and the HUD contacts are interesting aswell... I wouldn't mind have access to some of those.

 

[tce11]

If those alcohol pills become commercially available I see the number of alcohol related death skyrocketing. Popping a few pills would make alcohol poisoning far too easy. It would be cool if they made them slow releasing or something, otherwise they would probably be pretty harmful.

How would slow releasing be better?

After popping 5:
"These aren't working, I might have to take a few more."
After popping 5 more:
"...osdoer ayyyyy? rarg."

Slow releasing, as in it would gradually get you drunk over the course of the night. So it wouldn't just be, pop 5, pass out and hit your head on the coffee table. It would at least give your body time to get accustomed to the alcohol rather than just put you into shock.

But then the situation of "these aren't working I must need a some more" arises, meaning you end up taking more than you would need, and people who take more than they need are usually the people who don't know what they are doing and take way more than they need.

Neither situation is good, but I thought the point of these pills were to take exactly as much as you thought you needed, not for it to slowly hit you so you don't know when your as drunk as you're going to be. If you want slow releasing, just drink.

But, the thing about alcohol is that it is very different depending on how fast it is consumed. For example say someone could drink 12 beer in 3 hours and be nicely drunk those three hours, if they were to drink 12 beer in half an hour they would probably puke and be miserable the rest of the night. Slow releasing would at least give some sort of safe-guard against that. Of course, much like pretty much anything in this world self-control should be exercised. Even straight liquor takes at least a little while to take effect, by your logic someone could chug a 26 and say "oh it's not doing anything" and chug another one, but they would be ridiculous to do so. Which brings me back to my original statement, that the amount of alcohol related deaths would greatly increase.

 

[Whispering Death]

I WANT THOSE THINGS IN MY EYE RIGHT NOW!

 

[TimeLord]

I want a pair of those contact lenses!!

 

[Zersy]

Four words.

[HEADING=2]I. WANT. THESE. LENSES![/HEADING]

Or at least similar sunglasses.

No, seriously. All i need is some kind of Stat-O-Vision, helpful outlines highlighting things i need, Adblocker installed in them, and probably a wrist-mounted PDA a-la Pip Boy to configure them. This would be more awesome than Chuck Norris.

Yes there all fancy and everything, I've seen them a while back.

BUT has anyone noticed something wierd about them ?

How they seem to have NO power supply ? Tell where they get the power from then I shall be interested

 

[Lauren Admire]

If those contact lenses could also monitor biomedical data they could be incredibly useful for athletes, soldiers and people with illnessess such as diabetes, a constant feed of blood-sugar-level, body temp, hydration. Cyborgs will rise up!

They did suggest that it could be used to monitor blood-sugar levels. A less permanent option to the tattoo that monitors blood sugar [http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/13/tattoo-ink-monitors-blood-glucose-levels/].

 

[DazZ.]

But, the thing about alcohol is that it is very different depending on how fast it is consumed. For example say someone could drink 12 beer in 3 hours and be nicely drunk those three hours, if they were to drink 12 beer in half an hour they would probably puke and be miserable the rest of the night. Slow releasing would at least give some sort of safe-guard against that. Of course, much like pretty much anything in this world self-control should be exercised. Even straight liquor takes at least a little while to take effect, by your logic someone could chug a 26 and say "oh it's not doing anything" and chug another one, but they would be ridiculous to do so. Which brings me back to my original statement, that the amount of alcohol related deaths would greatly increase.

Don't doubt it wouldn't rise.

by your logic someone could chug a 26 and say "oh it's not doing anything" and chug another one, but they would be ridiculous to do so.

They could easily if they were in pill form, if the effects hit them instantly they wouldn't want to take more pills, if it was slow releasing they might.

Also you puke because you've drank so much, not because you're so drunk, so I'm not sure if getting drunk in half an hour but not being full of booze would make you feel ill, but it is an experiment I would like to be a part of. But without filling you're stomach really quickly I don't see why you would have the need to hurl.

 

[crotalidian]

First. My favourite part of getting drunk is the drinking. its what separated the normal drinkers from the alcoholics and winos

Second: Would the contact HUD not be open to hacking by...say....."WFH Earn $100s every Day!!!11!!" and other unwanted information. No Thanks

 

[OmegaXIII]

Do want those lenses, with a targeting system ala Terminator

 

[Tolerant Fanboy]

I sure hope no one ever confuses their male birth control pills with their vodka pills. Either scenario cannot possibly end well...

 

[Anarien]

Hmm, genetically alter the testes by removing a gene from one of the sections.

Yeah, this will turn out fine.

I can see no other possible outcome.

That isn't the process by which it works. That's how the scientist conducted the research, but the pill will operate hormonally to block sperm production. Female birth control pills also work via hormones, so it's not exactly something terrible. Although as with female pills, there may be side effects, which will probably lessen if enough men used this pill to open up the market for more variants.

I think part of the barrier to usage is reflected in some of the responses in this thread and that's the psychological aspect; the potential for feeling emasculated.

But why not add an additional layer to protection against unplanned pregnancies? A lot of the responsibility of preventing pregnancies is put upon the woman, especially once relationships get serious and monogamous and couples may not want to use condoms anymore. More options can only be better. And remember, condoms break, and other fun things, so having that backup also protects you.

 

[Nevyrmoore]

Ok, those lenses mean we have just taken a new step into the world of Shadowrun and it's Augmented Reality.


Dibs on becoming a Technomancer!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw those and thought "Shadowrun".

 

[Danpascooch]

Hmm, genetically alter the testes by removing a gene from one of the sections.

Yeah, this will turn out fine.

I can see no other possible outcome.

That isn't the process by which it works. That's how the scientist conducted the research, but the pill will operate hormonally to block sperm production. Female birth control pills also work via hormones, so it's not exactly something terrible. Although as with female pills, there may be side effects, which will probably lessen if enough men used this pill to open up the market for more variants.

I think part of the barrier to usage is reflected in some of the responses in this thread and that's the psychological aspect; the potential for feeling emasculated.

But why not add an additional layer to protection against unplanned pregnancies? A lot of the responsibility of preventing pregnancies is put upon the woman, especially once relationships get serious and monogamous and couples may not want to use condoms anymore. More options can only be better. And remember, condoms break, and other fun things, so having that backup also protects you.

I know, I am also not ignorant enough to think that genetic modification (if it was, it's not) would result in something grotesque anyway, I was just poking some fun.

Still, the idea of these drugs always worries me a bit, sure condoms break, but why have a guy take TWO forms of contraception? Why not have the female partner take one, the guy take one, and then you're pretty much totally covered.

 

[Smudge91]

Its about time men get a pill type thing... Also..
I want those lenses and the vodka pills! Getting up, paying for the drink and then drinking it is so much effort

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

My personal HUD would be a bunch of scrolling meaningless numbers and symbols, with a spinning double helix and constant loading bars popping up everywhere. It wouldn't be very useful, but it would sure kick ass.

 

[FallenRainbows]

THIS BLACK HOLE IS SUPER MASSIVE!

SO had to do that. Hell my iPod just this second shuffled to it.