Caffeine Measuring Dipsticks, Powered by Llamas, Camels

By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Caffeine-addicted? Or caffeine-avoidant? Tired of not knowing just how much caffeine that soda or coffee really has? Scientists have used camels and llamas to develop a method of measuring caffeine in a drink.

Both types of animals, called camelids by scientists, are among the few whose immune systems produce antibodies that are not destroyed by hot coffee.

Anyway, the researchers injected proteins linked to caffeine into the five beasts to elicit an immune response. The animals produced antibodies in their blood that were reactive to caffeine. Then in the lab, these antibodies were found to accurately indicate the amount of caffeine in hot coffee and also cold cola. Source: MSNBC

We Say: I’m not so sure I like the fact that most antibodies are destroyed by hot coffee. Makes me wonder what coffee does to me. However, once this is fully developed, at last I’ll be able to find out if Jolt is really giving me as much caffeine as it says.