Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Virtually Non-Stick Gum Created

Posted by Zonk on from the does-it-taste-any-good dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A new polymer has been developed by Professor Terence Cosgrove that allows for a non-sticky gum. In testing the gum was removed by weather while the competitor's gum was not removed 4 out of 5 times. The BBC reports: 'The company now needs to get its polymer accepted as a food product by passing EU health and safety tests. It can then go on sale. Professor Cosgrove says he is hopeful that the gum will pass them, and says the product could be on the market as early as next year, either as a Revolymer product or through a partnership with one of the major chewing gum manufacturers.'"

96 comments

  1. Shame it's stuck to the FP by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This was on /. yesterday, with the same BBC news link! Interesting story though.

    1. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Finally, next great invention - just like sliced bread! No, really, I think that it's good that they finally made it. All those gums under the desks, behind the corner, just waiting there to touch them. People should be ashamed of themselves, it's quite disgusting. But the heeeero comes throughhh. Yay.

    2. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      This was on /. yesterday

      Guess the story is not sticky enough, eh?

      -1 bad pun

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    3. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by utopianfiat · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      "Hey Cosgrove how's it going?"
      "Hey Freakazoid, you wanna go to the gum fair?"
      "DO I?! YES YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES!"

      --
      +5, Truth
    4. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Gum, the only product that lets you find women with oral fixations and no smoker breath. It should be free of charge :)

    5. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 1

      -1 for repeating the pun from the subject of my original post. +3 for having a sense of humour as groan-worthy as mine.

    6. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I'm not sure why the dumbass mods mark you Troll and him Funny. Read the guidelines, people. Focus on modding up, not down.

      If I had mod points I'd help you out, but sorry.

    7. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Seriously, Troll? I was pointing out a dupe, *and* I made a pun. And I even commented that I actually found the story interesting. That's Informative, Funny and Insightful right there, at the basic levels. Maybe not worth modding up, but modding DOWN?

      I guess I beat some people to FRIST POST and they had mod points to vent their anger with...

    8. Re:Shame it's stuck to the FP by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      -1 for repeating the pun from the subject of my original post.

      It's *how* you say it:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNCrMEOqHpc

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  2. Hopeful? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    When it comes to health & safety tests, I'd feel a little better about it if the developer was *confident* his product would pass.

    1. Re:Hopeful? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'd mod this funny. Last time I swallowed gum, it passed just fine.

  3. Kinda worthless for bubblegum alley by Nf1nk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I thought of our lovely local landmark and its iconic walls of used gum. This would not be a good addition.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubblegum_Alley
    Its pretty gross but its also kind cool

    --
    I used to have a cool sig, back when I cared
    1. Re:Kinda worthless for bubblegum alley by sqrt(2) · · Score: 1

      You know, I've lived in AG all my life and been to SLO countless times and I've never actually been there. I can't believe it has its own Wikipedia page.

      --
      If you build it, nerds will come. Soylentnews.org
    2. Re:Kinda worthless for bubblegum alley by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      There's a similar wall in Seattle -- I don't think it's quite so large or thick or old, though. And I don't think there's any traditions to it, just.. gum. The biggest difference is that I've only seen that one, yep.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
  4. I invented such a thing once by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...I called it "Potato".

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:I invented such a thing once by BugAttack · · Score: 1

      can someone explain this to me?

      --
      My, slashdot, this field I'm typing into has the perfect dimensions!
    2. Re:I invented such a thing once by BugAttack · · Score: 1

      "potato" because potato starch is used to create biodegradeable cigarette butts, which are equally repulsive as gum?

      --
      My, slashdot, this field I'm typing into has the perfect dimensions!
    3. Re:I invented such a thing once by soft_guy · · Score: 1

      It is spelled "Potatoe", you moran!

      --
      Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
  5. One problem by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then what the hell are we gonna stick in a girl's hair when we're bored in class? Now we'll hafta start dating them or something.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:One problem by MadUndergrad · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hmm....something to get in a girl's hair....that's sticky, and hard to get out......nope, nothing coming to me.

    2. Re:One problem by antdude · · Score: 0

      Glue? :P

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    3. Re:One problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      nothing coming to me. Well there's your problem!
    4. Re:One problem by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 1

      There's always blue tack.

      --
      What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
    5. Re:One problem by kaizokuace · · Score: 1

      it shouldnt be coming to you but out of you!

      --
      Balderdash!
  6. Oh Noes by pipingguy · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is such a sad development for the indoctrination of new students. So much history used to exist for newcomers in the long-respected tradition of sticking gum to the underside of desks. "New World Order" indeed. Puck Yoy!

  7. No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by nysus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They will buy it because it tastes good. How many kids out there would would make a buying decision based on what's in the best interest of others. The costs of carelessly discarded gum are externalized and don't affect the chewer. So I don't see how this product will ever be successful.

    --

    ---Technology will liberate us if it doesn't enslave us first.

    1. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by catbutt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In theory anyway, a city or school could outlaw sticky gum once the non-sticky kind is available. On the basis of it costing a lot of money to clean up the gum (or if they don't, gum all over sidewalks is ugly).

    2. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by Chris+Graham · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Maintaining a good general image is important to the gum manufacturers. They currently (at least in the UK) pay quite a bit of money to produce advertising for people to not leave gum stuck to things. It stops a public outcry against the companies, and stops the government producing legislation giving them property damage liability. The manufacturers who don't pick this new technology will receive bad PR (as their current stance would become untenable), and that would impact on any shops selling their gum. However, I could easily see new vendors starting to sell gum that was non-stick, if those vendors previously had not done so to protect their own establishments (e.g. cinemas).

    3. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Since when do chewing gum companies have PR? They never really advertise, and people aren't going to switch from Wrigley's to some unknown brand because it's non-stick.

      However the real benefit is that the old 'sticky' gum can just be banned.

    4. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by FinestLittleSpace · · Score: 2

      there is a lot of gum advertising in the UK

    5. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This invention eliminiates a whole economic branch - those who have specialized in removing +t gum.

    6. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by drsquare · · Score: 1

      I've never seen any of it.

    7. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by jackbird · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maybe it'll be legal in Singapore.

    8. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by BugAttack · · Score: 1

      good point, i would have never thought about that. i wouldn't be suprised if it cost more than a piece, pack, or even box of gum to remove a single piece.

      --
      My, slashdot, this field I'm typing into has the perfect dimensions!
    9. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by SL+Baur · · Score: 1

      people aren't going to switch from Wrigley's to some unknown brand because it's non-stick. Sure they will, once it's mandated by law. It used to be worth a ticket in Singapore to be caught chewing gum outside (why they repealed that law, I do not know). But hey, if it's OK to ticket people for smoking outdoors, why not also ticket (or ban) use of sticky chewing gum outdoors too?
    10. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by SL+Baur · · Score: 1

      Ah, I knew that law had been relaxed but that article makes it sound much more restrictive than I remember it (I was last in Singapore in late 2005).

      A reasonable compromise between civil liberty and cleanliness would be requiring something along the lines of the pocket portable ashtrays you can get in Japan.

    11. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by Dogtanian · · Score: 2, Funny

      I've never seen any of it. You evidently don't watch any commercial TV then; otherwise you must have seen the saturation ads for "Trident" gum (remember the ones that had Jamaican types yelling "mastication for the nation" until people complained that they were stereotypical, which were replaced with some twats tying themselves to factory gates and skydiving?).

      Either that or you don't actually live in the UK ;-)
      --
      "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
    12. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by TheLink · · Score: 1

      From the link: "First, U.S. officials requested that Singapore express support for U.S. invasion of Iraq, this was readily agreed without fanfare. Second, they demanded that Singapore lift the ban on chewing gum."

      I dunno why, but I found that rather amusing.

      --
    13. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean un-outlaw gum as long as it is non-sticky? At least for schools, I haven't heard about any city-wide gum bans.

    14. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by drsquare · · Score: 1

      I live in the UK, and watch commercial TV, I just turn over when the adverts come on. I didn't realise that the 'mastication for the nation' advert was about chewing gum. And I doubt people would buy it based on whether it stuck or not.

    15. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Non-stick gum is great for older people with dentures and other delicate dental work they don't want to jar loose.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    16. Re:No one will buy gum because it's non-stick by toddestan · · Score: 1

      At least for schools, I haven't heard about any city-wide gum bans.

      Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. I wonder if they would allow this new, non-sticky gum?

  8. Janitors/Custodions in Jr. and High Schools Cringe by rts008 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    At least as of now the layers of gum under desks and chairs can be ignored. If this comes about, then this new 'non-stick' gum will be dropping onto the floor, getting smeared around, collecting gunk...ewhh!

    Leave gum where it is...under desks and chairs! Not on the floor where we can see it, step in it, and smear it around!

      Think of the children! They could be trapped in this morass!...Stuck to the floor, just sitting ducks for the terrorists! Something has to be done!!..call a televangelist, get a politician...get a grip?!?!?

    Or: "Holy Fsckwad, Batman! I Can't believe my boxers are stuck to my a$$cheeks after that bubblegum tasting party last night!"

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  9. Wouldn't it be better... by Zouden · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...to just make a gum that's safe to swallow?

    --
    "A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
    1. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by DirePickle · · Score: 1

      What, you mean food?

    2. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by sucker_muts · · Score: 2, Informative

      Wouldn't it be better to just make a gum that's safe to swallow?

      'Chewing gum consists of a fibre that can't be digested by our bodies, so, if it's swallowed, apart from the unpleasant texture, it will pass harmlessly through the body intact along with other waste.'
      http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/ask/EX07_PRE01.ASP

      I still find it strange that people think swallowing gum is bad for you or something. :-)

      --
      Dependency hell? => /bin/there/done/that
    3. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by Atario · · Score: 4, Informative

      Gum is safe to swallow.

      --
      "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
    4. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Choking on it is probably bad for you.

      Is it more likely to choke on gum when trying to swallow it than other normal foodstuff?

      And would it be safer or more dangerous in such a situation?

      --
    5. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by DigiShaman · · Score: 0

      So if you fart, does your butthole blow a bubble?

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    6. Re:Wouldn't it be better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And is probably non-stick when it comes out.

  10. If the gum is not sticking by pkvon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While according to TFA its taste and texture is similiar to normal gum, if this gum is not sticking to surfaces as hard - will it still clean up all the plaque from your teeth? I mean if its not sticking to a wall, it might as well not stick to the dirt in between your teeth.

    1. Re:If the gum is not sticking by Gordonjcp · · Score: 4, Informative

      It doesn't remove bits stuck to your teeth particularly well anyway. The main way that it (supposedly) is good for your teeth is because chewing things makes your mouth produce saliva. This would normally soak into dry things (like for instance bread) so it doesn't stick in your throat or gullet on the way down. Because gum doesn't absorb moisture, this saliva just sloshes around in your mouth washing food particles away from your teeth and diluting sugary gunk and acids.

    2. Re:If the gum is not sticking by CandyMan · · Score: 1

      Also, anything can be sticky if it has enough sugar.

      --
      http://barrapunto.com/ - News for nerds, en español
    3. Re:If the gum is not sticking by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      With a nick like that, you should know...

    4. Re:If the gum is not sticking by iNetRunner · · Score: 2, Informative

      Xylitol is a good-for-your-teeth-sugar. Apparently Americans haven't really started using it yet..

      --
      Store with salt
    5. Re:If the gum is not sticking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      huh. I don't get it. Zylitol gum is sold widely in the states. If you're trying to insinuate the American's have poor dentition, that is certainly a new (and unwarranted) stereotype to my ears.

    6. Re:If the gum is not sticking by p3d0 · · Score: 1

      It doesn't remove bits stuck to your teeth particularly well anyway. Actually, I'm not sure where you heard that, but it does. I use it for that all the time. It's not like it's hard to tell whether the gum gets bits of stuff stuck in it: it definitely does.
      --
      Patrick Doyle
      I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
    7. Re:If the gum is not sticking by iNetRunner · · Score: 1

      Well, then you maybe someone should fix that Wikipedia page to reflect that state of affairs. I haven't been to States so I can't really tell how much it is sold there, and I have to rely on possibly misinformed sources as that Wikipedia article. And sorry I didn't mean to imply anything about your dental hygiene. =)

      --
      Store with salt
  11. In other news... by jez9999 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... Singapore police begin strong lobbying to ban this dangerous substance from their streets.

    --
    == Jez ==
    Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
    1. Re:In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's an interesting thing to note in Singapore:

      You CAN buy chewing gum (don't think you can get bubble gum though) from places like pharmacies. You know what the catch is? You have to provide things like your name, address and so on.

      The practice of leaving your details isn't exclusive to chewing gum. When you want to buy thinner, you have to do that as well. Oh and I heard when you want to buy those stick glue, you may have to provide details because a lot of teens here are sniffing glue to get high.

  12. Given that it dissolves in water... by randomtimes · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since it dissolves in water, won't chewing for a long time mean it'll slowly dissolve in your mouth and disappear? At least accidental ingestion shouldn't be a problem anymore.

    1. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by gigantu' · · Score: 0

      Preliminary results suggested the gum with added polymer eventually dissolves in water.
      You might need to chew on it for a few years ... :)

      I really hope it fails the "am I food?" tests and Professor Cosgrove changes area of research to something more useful. We don't need to ingest another strange substance. If you don't agree, think at the poor street cleaners losing their jobs. :p

    2. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The poor street cleaners can change their jobs to something more useful.

    3. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      Street cleaners HAVE a very useful job

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    4. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Accidental ingestion is a problem?

      You're belief consists of a myth buddy.

    5. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by Yaotzin · · Score: 1

      Still, it means that they can spend less time on removing gum, and more on other areas. Seems like a win situation to me.

      --
      Error: No error occurred
    6. Re:Given that it dissolves in water... by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      Cosgrove: Hey, Freakazoid! Wanna try my new non-stick gum?

      Freakazoid: Do I ever!

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  13. Mmmm.... by Aelcyx · · Score: 1

    Teflon flavor! Yum!

  14. By weather? by Poromenos1 · · Score: 1

    What does by weather mean? I'm not familiar with the phrase, can someone explain it?

    --
    Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
    1. Re:By weather? by Stochastism · · Score: 1

      I guess it means that it will wash off, by rain and wind if nothing else.

      But what we really need is something that makes the average gum chewer look less like a masticating cow by sticking their mouths shut.

    2. Re:By weather? by Poromenos1 · · Score: 1

      Gaah, also with food. To people chewing with their mouths open: You look bad and sound worse. It makes me want to stab you with a fork. Please cease.

      --
      Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
    3. Re:By weather? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1

      "By weather" could mean a few different things:

      1. Degraded through the action of the sun and rain into tiny pieces which are then easily bio-degraded (assuming gum bio-degrades...I'm not too sure about that one. See Bubblegum Alley).

      2. Swept conveniently into a drainpipe by the wind or rain where nobody needs to worry about it any more!

      3. Eaten by a bird

      4. Eaten by a hobo

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  15. There are easier ways to get gum out by ravnous · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why don't you freeze it with an ice cube, and hit it with a hammer? Works for me when I get bubbly-gum in the old push-broom.

    --
    When does this happen in the movie?
    1. Re:There are easier ways to get gum out by phedre · · Score: 1

      I can figure out how to freeze gum in my hair, but keep that hammer away from my head.

    2. Re:There are easier ways to get gum out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the peanut butter and mayonnaise.

    3. Re:There are easier ways to get gum out by ro_coyote · · Score: 1

      More fun to completely freeze it with an upside-down can of compressed air and then smash it with a hammer. =)

      Seriously speaking though, this is what I do in the computer labs at work (high school) whenever a student gets gum stuck in the carpet, then carefully pry it out with a strong flat edge. Just be careful not to freeze yourself when spraying (also certain brands freeze better than others, making it easier to remove the gum).

  16. Good Luck... by conares · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...McGyver, the next time you need to repair the wings on a flying plane you wont be doing it with chewinggum

    --
    That, that really grinds my gears!
    1. Re:Good Luck... by memeplex · · Score: 0

      And Survivorman's fishing-float (bobber) is in trouble, too. What's next? Non-stick duct tape? Rubber bands that don't stretch?

  17. Does gum lose flavor on bedpost overnight? by davidwr · · Score: 2, Funny
    Now we can answer the eternal question

    Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight? Answer: I don't know. It fell off.
    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  18. mod o+t by davidwr · · Score: 1

    Can I turn the sticky bit back on?

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  19. for those of you confused by davidwr · · Score: 1

    I like aliases. I meant chmod of course.

    That's what happens when you post to /. before the coffee is ready.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  20. Your Problem by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, of course I want to chew plastic, because it's not sticky.

    Just like smokers everywhere have switched from smoking burning cigarettes to chewing tobacco, because chewing means others aren't bothered by the smoke and butt litter.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

    1. Re:Your Problem by Bozdune · · Score: 1

      Right, others simply have to sidestep the brown spew -- or worse, the cast-off brown wad of gum and chewing tobacco favored by major league baseball players. Hey, I know, how about a spitoon on every corner? Lobby your congresscritter!

  21. Hey! I was born there. by SL+Baur · · Score: 1

    I didn't know that had its own Wiki entry. Ewww. Singapore was right, ban the stuff outright, I wish they had stuck to their guns.

    You can wash cigarette smoke out of your clothes, but a wad of chewing gum attached to your shoe is forever. I guess this is a step in the right direction.

  22. This is terrible news! by CFBMoo1 · · Score: 1

    Whenever I ran out of screws for my drives in the drive bays, good ol' gum was there to save the day! I guess I'll have to go back to paper clip drive mounting.

    --
    ~~ Behold the flying cow with a rail gun! ~~
    1. Re:This is terrible news! by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      "
      Whenever I ran out of screws for my drives in the drive bays, good ol' gum was there to save the day! I guess I'll have to go back to paper clip drive mounting"

      Nice to see another nice Geeksquad employee posting here on /. Try to stay off of /. when there are customers in the store. Thanks

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
  23. Virtual Gum by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 1

    Why can't virtual gum, in a game, be as nonsticky as its "sticky" parameter is set to? And why bother chewing it at all?

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  24. can it still be blown into a bubble? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the thing does not stick, will it just rip apart and won't blow a bubble? Screw that! Also how are you going to get rid of it in a class except by sticking it to the bottom of the table/chair?

    1. Re:can it still be blown into a bubble? by Pluvius · · Score: 1

      Things can be cohesive but not adhesive. Mercury is the most well-known example of this.

      Rob

  25. "Non-stick" as in "sticky:" by Xgamer4 · · Score: 1

    I thought it meant it as in "stick of gum" and was trying to figure out why changing the shape changed how well it stuck to things. I'm an idiot. >_

    1. Re:"Non-stick" as in "sticky:" by sanso999 · · Score: 1

      I thought I was being dense for thinking it meant only weather could remove it, imagining all those desks being lugged outside when it rains.

  26. Another one? by Rhapsody+Scarlet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm sure I remember a previous 'non-stick gum' that was invented years ago. As I recall, the only problem with that was a bitter taste, necessitating lashings of sugar to make it halfway palatable. Is this new gum in any way related?

  27. What about dental appliances? by drdanny_orig · · Score: 2, Insightful

    At first read, I thought they meant it wouldn't stick to dental work. Who cares about sidewalks and theater seats?

    --
    .nosig
  28. lighter fluid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    takes gum right out of hair. No need for new crazy polymers. Just use a little lighter fluid and you can dissolve dried gum off pretty much anything

  29. It occurs to me that ... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 0, Redundant

    non-stick chewing gum would have caused a lot of grief for MacGyver.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.