How to trap sperm

Partial-protein coating lets microscopic beads mimic unfertilized eggs

sperm

BOUND  Mouse sperm (left, red) flock to a polymer bead coated with the sperm-binding sections of a protein found around unfertilized eggs (illustration, right). Such beads could someday be used as contraceptives or a method for identifying healthy sperm, researchers report. 

M.A. Avella et al/STM 2016

New sperm-catching beads could someday help prevent pregnancy — or enable it.