Respiratory diseases like measles, flu, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 are all transmitted by droplets. Some are tiny and airborne, capable of traveling long distances. Other drops are larger and only capable Keep reading
Tag: disease transmission
Imitating a Cough
Coughing and sneezing create violent air flows in and around our bodies. As that fast air rushes over mucus layers in our lungs, throat, and sinuses, the resulting flow breaks Keep reading
Gathering Safely
One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is a renewed interest in the physics of disease transmission and what measures can protect us from airborne respiratory illnesses. This recent study looks Keep reading
Airflow in the Opera
Like so many other performers, the singers and musicians of New York’s Metropolitan Opera House were left without a way to safely perform when the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic began in early Keep reading
Turbulent Puffs
When a burst of air gets expelled into still surroundings — like when a person coughs — it forms a turbulent puff like the one seen here. Puffs can be Keep reading
Controlling Aerosols Onstage
Few industries saw more disruption from the pandemic than the performing arts. To help orchestras return to the concert hall in a way that keeps performers and audience members safe, Keep reading
Airborne Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic health officials resisted the idea that the novel coronavirus was transmissible through tiny aerosol droplets rather than larger, non-buoyant droplets. One case that made headlines Keep reading
Cutting Coronavirus Risk in Cars
Even in a pandemic, it’s sometimes necessary to share a car with someone outside one’s bubble. When that’s the case, it’s important to know how to limit risks of coronavirus Keep reading
The Best of FYFD 2020
2020 was certainly a strange year, and I confess that I mostly want to congratulate all of us for making it through and then look forward to a better, happier, Keep reading
Why Masks Cut COVID-19 Transmission So Well
Face masks are an important tool for curtailing disease transmission, and this video explains how even imperfect masks do a much better job of protecting people than you may think. Keep reading