Researchers discovered that sunlight is now more effective when it comes to neutralizing the novel coronavirus, which is the one causing the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. They claimed that sunlight is now eight times faster than before. 

New Study Reveals Sunlight Now Neutralizes Coronavirus 8X Faster: Here's What Experts Discovered
(Photo : Photo by Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race, onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Brunel and Dongfeng visible on the horizon silhouetted by a setting sun over the Atlantic Ocean during Leg 6 from Itajai to Newport starting on April 19, 2015 in Itajai, Brazil. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 04, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in eleven countries.

According to Explica's latest report, the latest sunlight study was conducted by different universities. These include Oregon State University, University of Manchester, ETH Zurich, and UC Santa Barbara. 

However, the researchers explained that persistence and exposure risk still vary significantly between outdoor and indoor locations. 

"The theory had predicted that inactivation should occur an order of magnitude slower," said Paulo Luzzatto-Fegiz, a UC Santa Barbara Professor of mechanical engineering. 

"In experiments, viruses in simulated saliva and exposed to UV-B lamps went inactive more than eight times faster than the theory would have predicted," added the lead author of the study. 

Why sunlight can now neutralize COVID-19 faster

Wonderful Engineering reported that the new study was published by the Journal of Infectious Diseases. It explained that previous researches include UV-B rays to be effective at inactivating the deadly virus. 

New Study Reveals Sunlight Now Neutralizes Coronavirus 8X Faster: Here's What Experts Discovered

(Photo : Photo by CDC/Getty Images)
This undated handout photo from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a microscopic view of the Coronavirus at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the CDC the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) might be a "previously unrecognized virus from the Coronavirus family."

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They also didn't find any effect of UV-A rays when it comes to neutralizing the novel coronavirus. However, the new study proved that the UV-A rays are more effective compared to UV-B types. 

The researchers added that they could help medical experts and scientists to have a new approach that could effectively stop the spread of COVID-19. Luzzatto-Fezig also added that these rays could be speeding up the inactivation process.  

What previous studies show  

Recent studies said that sunlight can inactivate the novel coronavirus for between ten to 20 minutes. However, UV light could now do this in less than ten or 20 minutes, thanks to the newly found effects of sunlight's UV-A rays. 

The latest study's conducted experiments revealed that the simulated saliva viruses were neutralized eight times faster using UV-B lamps. On the other hand, if the UV-A rays would be proven effective, this could help prevent the virus's further spread since most indoor lights and LED bulbs produce stronger UV-A radiation compared to the sun itself. 

For more news updates about COVID-19 and other related innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon

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