Time to get your science fiction hats on, but leave the fiction visor off this time. The
BBC has gotten all hot and bothered today about a newly published research report indicating a significant advancement in the field of plasma-based disinfection of both healthy and wounded human skin. Yes, the same stuff that drives your
big-ass television is also capable -- in a gaseous form -- of interacting with the oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor in the air to create a concoction lethal to bacteria and fungi, but innocuous to humanoids. The big breakthrough here is that mass production of such devices is finally possible at rates affordable enough to makes them commonplace in hospitals, tattoo shops and the like. Additionally, an argon-based "plasma torch" has been shown to
accelerate wound healing, though it's not certain whether this happens through the particular effects of the plasma, or through the reduction of bacteria infesting the wound. The fact the researchers themselves don't know is both unnerving and strangely fun at the same time. We've got a shot of the prototype after the break and the
entire paper is available at the read link, if you feel like a geek binge.
posted November 26th 2009 7:15AM
@admin
nevermind i'm dumb
@admin
The funny thing is, they say plasma in a gaseous form. If its a gas then it isn't plasma anymore, right?
@drumwiz86
The picture further confuses things, as they use plasmids in Bioshock, not plasma.
And you would be correct in saying that gas is no longer plasma, but the way this machine works is by only turning a small percentage of the gas into plasma, whose electrons then ionize other nearby particles and create compounds that are harmful to bacteria. So it's mostly gaseous.
so... that isnt how you wash your hands to prevent swine flu?
this doesn't make sense
hand washing will never be obsolete!!!!!
People need to remember that bacteria isn't the only thing you're cleaning off with soap and water. Skin oils, chemicals, food residue and so on collect on your skin and need to be removed. If you change the oil on your car, hand sanitiser won't remove the gunk you have all over your hands. There is plenty of stuff on us that we can't even see, but that can be harmful to us if not removed in a reasonable time.
Also, it is not necessary to use alcohol gel after washing your hands with soap and water. The gel is just a measure you take when soap and water aren't available. I wish people would understand this! I'm allergic to the hand sanitisers, and get accosted by volunteers when I enter hospitals and doctors' offices because I skip the gel and head straight to the washroom to wash my hands properly in the sink. Sheesh!
Plasma is by definition gaseous.
The iPhone 4G will come with this installed to clean all the bacteria from the screen