**The Germ Falcon: A New Frontier in Airborne Disease Prevention**

In the ongoing battle against airborne diseases, a new technology has emerged that aims to revolutionize the way we travel. The Germ Falcon is designed specifically for the interior of an airplane, and its innovative design is poised to change the face of air travel forever.

The Germ Falcon is built in the footprint of a flight attendant's food and drink cart and features wings that reach out over the seats and under the overhead bins. Its interior is lined with ultraviolet UVC lights, strategically positioned to deliver high doses of these powerful germ-killing rays to all commonly touched surfaces on an airplane. This targeted approach ensures that even the most vulnerable areas are protected from the spread of disease.

**The Science Behind Ultraviolet Germ Killing**

So, how do light-based disinfecting technologies work? Consider the sun's rays and their impact on our skin. The same principle applies to ultraviolet light, which is capable of killing a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and superbugs. UVC lights, like those used in the Germ Falcon, emit a high-energy spectrum that is effective against airborne diseases.

In hospitals, UVC lights have been used for years to disinfect surfaces and kill pathogens. However, their use on airplanes presents unique challenges. Unlike chemical disinfectants, which can be flammable and require special handling, UV light-based technologies offer a safer, more efficient alternative.

**The Challenges of Disinfecting Airplanes**

Chemical disinfectants are commonly used in hospitals to sanitize surfaces, but they have limitations when it comes to airplane interiors. These chemicals can be highly flammable and may damage the flame-retardant coatings on surfaces. Moreover, most chemical disinfectants require well-ventilated areas for effective use, which is not feasible in an airplane cabin.

To disinfect an airplane effectively, one must leave the surface visibly wet for a minimum of 10 seconds to kill bacteria. However, this approach is impractical and time-consuming, especially on a crowded flight where every minute counts. The Germ Falcon's UV light technology offers a more efficient solution, allowing it to deliver high doses of UVC light to all surfaces in a matter of minutes.

**The Role of the Germ Falcon**

The Germ Falcon is just one example of how ultraviolet germ killing technology is being applied to prevent airborne diseases. In hospitals, companies like Dimer are deploying autonomous UV disinfecting robots to tackle the spread of disease. These robots have been deployed in over 50 countries and are being tested in Florida.

Dimer's own unit, called the UV Hammer, is designed for use in operating rooms and patient rooms, providing a safe and effective solution for hospital disinfection. The company also offers a handheld UVC device called the UV Blue Eye, which is designed to provide an additional layer of protection against airborne pathogens.

**A Household Solution on the Horizon**

While the Germ Falcon may not be available for purchase just yet, Dimer's CEO has hinted at plans to release a household unit in the near future. This development would bring UVC light-based disinfection technology to the masses, allowing individuals to protect their homes and families from airborne diseases.

The good news is that germs in our own households are often benign, and it's unlikely that they pose a significant threat to our health. However, when we travel, especially on crowded airplanes, we're more vulnerable to airborne pathogens. The Germ Falcon represents a bold step forward in protecting us against these threats.

**Surviving and Thriving in the Age of Social Distancing**

As we navigate the challenges of social distancing, it's essential to stay informed and take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Whether it's using the Germ Falcon on your next flight or taking simple precautions at home, every effort counts in the fight against airborne diseases.

If you have tips for surviving and thriving in these strange times, we'd love to hear them! Let us know in the comments below as we continue to navigate this new normal together. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwith coronavirus sweeping the globe demand for virus killing ultraviolet light machines is increasing right now we're offering all the units that we have at no cost because we understand the magnitude of this situation and we want to do whatever we can to help one of the key places these ultraviolet light machines are being put to work is airplanes with people packed tight and lots of high touch surfaces planes are just as much a form of transportation for germs as they are for us that's where the germ falcon comes in germ falcon is designed specifically for the interior of an airplane it's built in the footprint of a flight attendants food and drink cart and it has these wings that reach out over the seats and under the overhead bins and it's lined with these ultraviolet UVC lights and they're strategically positioned to deliver high doses of these UVC lights to all the commonly touched surfaces on an airplane if you're wondering how light can kill viruses consider how the sun's rays burn our skin especially mine you've probably seen sunglasses or sunscreen advertising protection from both UVA and UVB light the Sun Also emits a higher energy UVC light like the kind created by the germ falcon but it doesn't penetrate the Earth's atmosphere meaning earth germs haven't had any reason to develop immunity to it UVC lights been used in hospitals for a long time and it is very reliable and very fast to kill all known pathogens bacteria viruses and superbugs is what it's typically used for in hospitals on airplanes are really concerned with viruses like corona virus Ebola influenza and norovirus or that they work UVC isn't the only method of disinfecting a plane but it does have some significant advantages over the chemical disinfectants we usually use chemical disinfectants are highly flammable they tend to remove the flame-retardant coatings on airplane surfaces that are required by law and most of the time if you look at the chemical disinfectants you have it at home if you read the fine print there only to be used in well-ventilated areas which is not the interior of an airplane they're only supposed to be used on hard non-porous surfaces which is probably 60% of the airplane cabin but the other 40% is leathers fabrics to sanitize one of surfaces which is to kill bacteria you need to leave the surface visibly wet for 10 seconds and then wipe it dry to kill viruses to disinfect you need to keep the surface visibly wet for up to four minutes and they're not doing that on airplanes this ultraviolet germ killing technology is also being put to use in another critical battlefield in the fight against disease-causing microbes hospitals a company called uvd robots has been deploying ultraviolet disinfecting robots to hospitals around the globe since 2018 it claims to offer the only autonomous battery-powered ultraviolet robots currently available these UV disinfecting robots have been deployed in about 50 countries so far they're not fully active in the United States yet but they are being tested in Florida dimer the company behind the germ falcon also has a unit made for hospitals called the UV hammer a great option in operating rooms it'll work in patient rooms off on both sides of a curtain there's no cord that potentially picks up germs off the floor and takes them to the next room our unit disinfectants own wheels it'll also work in classrooms it'll work in airport terminals where it's currently being used it'll work in hotels cruise ships restaurants gyms and eventually we want to get to a household unit dimer is also working on a UV disinfecting robot for the International Space Station as well as a handheld UVC device called the UV blue eye though Elliott had some words of warning about hand-held UVC devices in general we don't recommend handheld units because they either don't do a good job killing germs or the lamps are so strong that you could potentially hurt yourself with Elliott couldn't reveal pricing information on the germ falcon but he did say that they're working on ramping up production to meet the increasing demand for folks out there hoping to give the germs in their home or apartment a nice little sunburn you may have to wait awhile available for your home is probably a couple of years down the road the good news is the germs in your house are overwhelmingly your own germs the germs on your cell phone are overwhelmingly your own germs and those aren't going to get you sick but when you get on an airplane it's specifically everyone else's germs as much as someone might like to disinfect their household the way that the hospital would it's a bigger issue on airplanes in the immediate future for sure for those of you looking for a way to sanitize your home my colleague Katie Connor wrote a CNET article all about that I'll put the link down in the description got any tips for surviving and thriving in these strange times let us know down below hope you enjoyed the first video from my apartment in the age of social distancing thanks so much for watching see you next timewith coronavirus sweeping the globe demand for virus killing ultraviolet light machines is increasing right now we're offering all the units that we have at no cost because we understand the magnitude of this situation and we want to do whatever we can to help one of the key places these ultraviolet light machines are being put to work is airplanes with people packed tight and lots of high touch surfaces planes are just as much a form of transportation for germs as they are for us that's where the germ falcon comes in germ falcon is designed specifically for the interior of an airplane it's built in the footprint of a flight attendants food and drink cart and it has these wings that reach out over the seats and under the overhead bins and it's lined with these ultraviolet UVC lights and they're strategically positioned to deliver high doses of these UVC lights to all the commonly touched surfaces on an airplane if you're wondering how light can kill viruses consider how the sun's rays burn our skin especially mine you've probably seen sunglasses or sunscreen advertising protection from both UVA and UVB light the Sun Also emits a higher energy UVC light like the kind created by the germ falcon but it doesn't penetrate the Earth's atmosphere meaning earth germs haven't had any reason to develop immunity to it UVC lights been used in hospitals for a long time and it is very reliable and very fast to kill all known pathogens bacteria viruses and superbugs is what it's typically used for in hospitals on airplanes are really concerned with viruses like corona virus Ebola influenza and norovirus or that they work UVC isn't the only method of disinfecting a plane but it does have some significant advantages over the chemical disinfectants we usually use chemical disinfectants are highly flammable they tend to remove the flame-retardant coatings on airplane surfaces that are required by law and most of the time if you look at the chemical disinfectants you have it at home if you read the fine print there only to be used in well-ventilated areas which is not the interior of an airplane they're only supposed to be used on hard non-porous surfaces which is probably 60% of the airplane cabin but the other 40% is leathers fabrics to sanitize one of surfaces which is to kill bacteria you need to leave the surface visibly wet for 10 seconds and then wipe it dry to kill viruses to disinfect you need to keep the surface visibly wet for up to four minutes and they're not doing that on airplanes this ultraviolet germ killing technology is also being put to use in another critical battlefield in the fight against disease-causing microbes hospitals a company called uvd robots has been deploying ultraviolet disinfecting robots to hospitals around the globe since 2018 it claims to offer the only autonomous battery-powered ultraviolet robots currently available these UV disinfecting robots have been deployed in about 50 countries so far they're not fully active in the United States yet but they are being tested in Florida dimer the company behind the germ falcon also has a unit made for hospitals called the UV hammer a great option in operating rooms it'll work in patient rooms off on both sides of a curtain there's no cord that potentially picks up germs off the floor and takes them to the next room our unit disinfectants own wheels it'll also work in classrooms it'll work in airport terminals where it's currently being used it'll work in hotels cruise ships restaurants gyms and eventually we want to get to a household unit dimer is also working on a UV disinfecting robot for the International Space Station as well as a handheld UVC device called the UV blue eye though Elliott had some words of warning about hand-held UVC devices in general we don't recommend handheld units because they either don't do a good job killing germs or the lamps are so strong that you could potentially hurt yourself with Elliott couldn't reveal pricing information on the germ falcon but he did say that they're working on ramping up production to meet the increasing demand for folks out there hoping to give the germs in their home or apartment a nice little sunburn you may have to wait awhile available for your home is probably a couple of years down the road the good news is the germs in your house are overwhelmingly your own germs the germs on your cell phone are overwhelmingly your own germs and those aren't going to get you sick but when you get on an airplane it's specifically everyone else's germs as much as someone might like to disinfect their household the way that the hospital would it's a bigger issue on airplanes in the immediate future for sure for those of you looking for a way to sanitize your home my colleague Katie Connor wrote a CNET article all about that I'll put the link down in the description got any tips for surviving and thriving in these strange times let us know down below hope you enjoyed the first video from my apartment in the age of social distancing thanks so much for watching see you next time\n"