In a study, Japanese researchers used Fugaku, the most powerful supercomputer in the world. The goal? Modeling the emission of Covid-19 viral particles in indoor spaces. According to the study, indoor humidity would reduce aerosol contamination.
In June 2020, we were talking about the new most powerful supercomputer in the world. This is Fugaku, installed at the Riken Center for Computational Science in Kobe (Japan). Developed by Fujitsu and Riken, the supercomputer obtained the incredible result of 415.53 petaflops in the Linpack performance test! However, an article published by the Reuters news agency on October 14, 2020 reveals that a recent Japanese study used this supercomputer in the context of research on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Using the computing power of Fugaku, the researchers modeled the emission and flow of viral particles of infected people in various interiors. According to the results, humidity would reduce aerosol contamination. Simulations have shown that in an environment with air humidity not exceeding 30% , the amount of particles suspended in the air is twice as large as in an environment where the humidity reaches 60% or more. In other words, the study suggests that the higher the humidity in an interior, the lower the risk of contamination.
Principal director of the study, Makoto Tsubokura used the Fugaku supercomputer to model contagion conditions in trains, workspaces and classrooms. This research also concluded that face shields are completely ineffective to prevent the spread of aerosols. However, researchers in the United States have recently mentioned several advantages regarding the visor. This would embody additional protection for the eyes. On the other hand, it should be noted that there is no data quantifying the risk of ocular exposure route.
Remember, however, that there is a consensus among health experts:the coronavirus can be spread by air. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised their guidelines. Now the CDC is certain that the pathogen can stay in the air for several hours. As a result, Makoto Tsubokura's main discovery leads us to believe that it might possibly be possible to play on the humidity level to reduce the risk of contamination.
In April 2020, a European research group nevertheless came to the opposite conclusion. The researchers had mentioned the possibility of correlating the areas most affected by the virus to an air humidity level greater than 50% . In addition, the study directors believed that the droplets we project disappear more quickly in dry air.
