La prevenzione dell'influenza potrebbe diventare semplice come premere un interruttore. Ricercatori della Columbia University stanno mettendo a punto una speciale lampada a raggi ultravioletti in grado di uccidere il virus nell'aria in ambienti chiusi, come sale d'aspetto, treni e scuole, dove avvengono molti contagi.
La lampada emette raggi ultravioletti a onde corte (UVC), già usati per sterilizzare strumenti chirurgici, che però ad alte concentrazioni possono danneggiare occhi e pelle.
I ricercatori hanno effettuato degli esperimenti con basse dosi di UVC, innocue per l'uomo, e hanno verificato che sono in grado di uccidere i virus presenti nell'aria, come se fossero stati colpiti da una forte concentrazione di ultravioletti.
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