The engineers whose Badger Shield design drew worldwide demand are back with a new pandemic-inspired design, one they say will dramatically increase the effectiveness of standard face masks.
The innovation came after a study by two University of Wisconsin-Madison mechanical engineering professors revealed that various existing masks and face shields allow tiny particles to escape, both through the material and at the edges. If the wearer is infected with the novel coronavirus, that means the virus could travel from the wearer’s mouth or nose and infect those around them.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added airborne transmission — via aerosolized droplets in breath — to the list of primary ways in which the virus is passed, but retracted that statement three days later despite months of science supporting the claim.
The research came from professors Scott Sanders and David Rothamer, who usually study combustion engines and use laser illumination to find the leaks. Back in April, they turned their expertise and tools toward solutions to the growing pandemic.
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