Scientists in the UAE have invented an electric face mask they say is capable of killing viruses.
The device has two electrodes fitted to either side of a mask, which zap any viruses that enter the space, either completely destroying them or rendering them harmless.
The UAE University team, led by Dr Mahmoud Al Ahmad, have patented the idea and are now seeking investors to produce the masks at scale.
With investment, the masks should be made in bulk and sold cheaply, he said.
At this stage, the device looks like an electric strip that could be fitted to a variety of basic masks, rather than a bulky 'air purifying' device that several other developers have released.
Whenever something is coming, like a virus, it will burn. Like the lamps that kill the mosquito in your house. It will kill it
Dr Mahmoud Al Ahmad,
UAE University
“These masks can be multi-layer,” said Dr Al Ahmad, an associate professor of engineering who has been working on Covid-research projects since the start of the pandemic.
“One layer will have electrodes and there will be spacing between these electrodes to allow for breathing.
“Whenever something is coming, like a virus, it will burn. Like the lamps that kill the mosquito in your house. It will kill it.”
He said although the project holds promise, and the masks have been proven to kill the virus that causes Covid-19, it cannot proceed without investment.
“We can make electrodes using flexible metals, so it will be cheap at high volume. But it needs funding,” he said.
The electrodes will be powered by a small coin battery, so there is no risk of electrocution to the wearer. They will not even be aware of the virus being zapped because it is so small, he said.
The technology can be used in any clothing, not just masks, and the settings can be adjusted to target different kinds of viruses, Dr Al Ahmad said.
“While the concept will require more development before being applied to personal protective equipment, it is an excellent start in this direction,” he said.
In October, researchers at Khalifa University revealed that they were working on masks that would filter out specific viruses, such as Covid-19 and the flu, using nanotechnology, which can slow or stop the spread of micro-organisms.
Studies have shown masks help to prevent the spread of airborne viruses, such as the coronavirus.
A recent study found face coverings reduced the number of coronavirus cases by 53 per cent, although many experts said the research was flawed because much of it was observational.
They said people who wear masks are more likely to be more careful, generally, so they naturally would be associated with lower numbers of Covid cases.
Experts said the real number may be more like a 10 per cent to 20 per cent reduction in the number of Covid cases.
That was confirmed by real-life evidence in a study in Bangladesh involving almost 350,000 people.
The results showed masks reduced symptomatic infections by about 11 per cent, according to a “gold standard” randomised controlled trial.
The protective effect was even better for people over 60, at almost 35 per cent.
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
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Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
LAST 16
SEEDS
Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Valencia, Juventus
PLUS
Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Chelsea
SPEC%20SHEET
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Results
5pm: Reem Island – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Farasah, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
5.30pm: Sir Baniyas Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: SSR Ghazwan, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Astral Del Sol, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Al Maryah Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Toumadher, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
7pm: Yas Island – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Saadiyat Island – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,400m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Gary Sanchez, Ismail Mohammed
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
