New surgical mask doesn't just trap viruses, it renders them harmless
Friday, January 6, 2017 - 12:31
in Health & Medicine
The surgical masks people wear to stop the spread of diseases don't work well -- that isn't what they're designed for. Pathogens like influenza are transmitted in aerosol droplets when we cough or sneeze. Masks trap the droplets but the virus remains infectious. Scientists took on the challenge of improving the masks, using salt to turn them into virus killers.