How a 150-year-old experiment with a beam of light showed germs exist -- and that a face mask can help filter them out
- Written by Ian Hesketh, ARC Future Fellow, The University of Queensland
John Tyndall used a beam of light to reveal floating motes of organic matter in the air which he believed carried disease.Shutterstock
Respirators and face masks are staple pieces of personal protective equipment for hospital workers and others in public health, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us.
They can protect the wearer, but for diseases...