Pandemic preparedness could, for example, be greatly enhanced by using low-wavelength lightbulbs that kill viruses. Giving off light with a wavelength between 200 and 230 nanometers, close to the ultraviolet spectrum, they can kill viruses while not penetrating the outer layer of the skin: a powerful weapon against pandemics and the spread of disease more widely. And if the COVID-19 pandemic taught us one thing, it’s the value of an integrated, accelerated approach across research, rollout, and regulation for novel vaccines.
