Studies indicate that homemade masks help combat the spread of viruses like COVID-19 when combined with frequent hand-washing and physical distancing. Many of these studies focus on the transfer of tiny aerosol particles; however, researchers say that speaking, coughing and sneezing generates larger droplets that carry virus particles. Because of this, mechanical engineer Taher Saif said the established knowledge may not be enough to determine the effectiveness of some fabrics used in homemade masks. Saif, a mechanical science and engineering professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, led a study that examined the effectiveness of common household fabrics in blocking droplets. The findings are published in the journal Extreme Mechanics Letters.
“A mask made out of a low-breathability fabric is not only uncomfortable, but can also result in leakage as the exhaled air is forced out around contours of a face, defeating the purpose of the mask and providing a false sense of protection,” Saif said. “Our goal is to show that many common fabrics exploit the trade-off between breathability and efficiency of blocking droplets – large and small.”
This story is from the September - October 2020 edition of Scientific India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September - October 2020 edition of Scientific India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
An insight into Chandipura virus in India
Recently lot of news regarding disease due to Chandipura virus has emerged in various newspapers/magazines. After reading the reports published it seems that thing is still brewing in the natures nest and it could affect mankind.
Why elephants never forget?
An elephant has a very large brain for its size and the 'temporal lobe' region responsible for memory is more developed with a greater number of folds - this results in powerful abilities to 'download' important survival data such as where to find food and water, and who is friend or foe.
Use of Algae for Wastewater Treatment Containing Heavy Metals
Wastewater treatment is a critical environmental issue particularly when it comes to the removal of heavy metals.
Nano priming Seeds: A Small Innovation Sparkling Big Advances in Germination
Nanopriming is an emerging agricultural technique where the seeds are treated with nanoparticles to improve their germination, growth, and overall performance.
Nobel Laureates in Physics 2024: Revolutionizing AlThe Physics Foundations Behind Machine Learning
This year's two Nobel Laureates in Physics have used tools from physics to develop methods that are the foundation of today's powerful machine learning.
Revolutionizing Biology: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Celebrates Breakthroughs in Protein Design and Structure Prediction
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 is about proteins, life's ingenious chemical tools.
New findings on animal viruses with potential to infect humans
Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.
Father-Daughter Team Decodes Mars' Alien Signal
There is no definitive answer to whether aliens exist, but there is a lot of work being done to find out:
Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Working for Farmer's Welfare
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centres) are the District level institution serving as an agriculture knowledge resource & capacity development centre which plays indispensable role in front line extension regarding agriculture system in scientific way.
Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology
We are in a transition towards a digital world, where everything will be dealt with in digital format.