Light? What? As in sunlight from the sun? That somehow protects me from getting sick?
Yes, as in sunlight from the sun. In more scientific terms there would be some sort of photochemical reaction between the mucus aerosol and the virions they contain. Virions engage in a constant random walk though a fluid, but the rapid evaporation of the mucus aerosol may make this impossible. We know that mucus contains virion binding sites that would help this process, perhaps as the water evaporated the virions would be increasingly fixed in place.
Wouldn’t this process be happening indoors anyway? We have windows and bright lights in our homes and offices.
Our eyes automatically adjust for the differing light levels and we don’t get to consciously observe the differing light levels between indoor and outdoor environments. But indoor lighting is typically only 1% as bright as outdoor lighting. Whatever light does to reduce virus transmissibility is probably almost entirely absent indoors.
Virus transmissibility has been extensively studied. How does this sit with what we already know about SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks?
Rather well, though not perfectly. But it would explain the almost complete absence of outdoor infections. This process could be extremely efficient in rendering SARS-CoV-2 uninfectious. The lack of virus transmission outdoors is attributed implicitly to greatly improved ventilation relative to indoor environments. Virus aerosols are likened to smoke that build up over time in poorly ventilated spaces… but you can still smell smoke outdoors from time to time… though a lot less than indoors. The sunlight triggered transmission immunity would explain why outdoor infections hardly ever take place. For instance there was public concern over crowded summer beaches causing infections in the UK, but no COVID-19 spikes have been recorded from these or similar events.
Is this related to UV light? I know this also kills viruses.
UV light kills virions by breaking down their RNA and has been extensively studied, but the interaction between mucus and virions would be a fundamentally different process.
What part of the sun’s spectrum is responsible?
It would make sense for it to be in the visible spectrum, since that’s where the peak of the sun’s intensity is. Towards the blue spectrum would contain more energy (because of higher frequency). Beyond that there must be certain biological limitations as to how this works, and what’s possible. This needs to be researched.
Why not just install UV lights rather than sun-style lights? We know this works already!
UV light is known to harm skin and eyes, and cause cancer. Sun-style lights would work with your transmission immune system in a more natural way, and have no such risks.
But it probably isn’t a permanent process, if mucus is removed from the virions, or if the mucus is rehydrated, the virions they contain will once again become mobile and infectious.
How practical would it be to install sun-style lights?
For hospitals it would be readily workable. Likewise for certain crowded spaces, like reception areas, tills in shops and coffee shops, it would be an easy fix to reduce transmissibility.
It would be a lot easier and more comfortable than wearing masks. A lot of people do not wear masks correctly, installing lights would guarantee a much higher level of protection…
Can we prove this?
Yes! I’m working on an experiment that will demonstrate this shortly… visit again soon!
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