Let There Be Germicidal Light: This $500 Fixture Could Stop the Next Pandemic, from Complex Systems
Hello, and welcome back to the Cognitive Revolution.
Today, I'm excited to share an episode of Complex Systems, a podcast on technology, finance, and systems thinking hosted by internet legend Patrick McKenzie, also known as @patio11 [This episode], which features Aerolamp CEO Misha Gurevich and Chief Scientist Vivian Belenky, offers a detailed primer on the use of 222 nanometer wavelength light to deactivate airborne pathogens and thus prevent the transmission of infectious disease in shared spaces. As you'll hear, while the evidence of practical value is still coming in, the lab science is quite well-understood, and already we have preliminary results from a South African trial showing 90% suppression of tuberculosis transmission in hospital wards. For additional credibility, I would highlight that Aerolamp specifically comes [recommended by philanthropist Jeff Kaufman], who's now working full-time to prevent catastrophic pandemics at [SecureBio], an organization that I've personally supported with a modest donation. At $500, the Aerolamp might feel a bit expensive, but I would argue that the expected ROI is outstanding. On the most basic level, getting sick sucks, and a single case of the common cold can easily cost individuals and companies more than $500 in terms of lost productivity.
For the immunocompromised, the value is even higher, which is why my wife and I installed an Aerolamp directly over my son's bed every time he was in the hospital for cancer treatment last winter. Thankfully, he's now headed back to school, and I'm planning to put my money where my mouth is, by buying and installing a couple of lights for each of my sons' classrooms. If we get anything like a 90% reduction in disease transmission, the social returns on this investment will be truly outstanding. And bigger picture, as we're all well aware, AI systems are fast becoming extremely capable, and we've recently seen the first examples of autonomous cyber-attacks. By many accounts, similar capabilities are coming soon to biology, and while the upside is undeniably incredible, I shudder to think about what accidents or attacks might transpire along the way. Buying a 222 nanometer light, from Aerolamp or otherwise, seems to me a great way to invest in one's own health and help expand the nascent market for what might soon prove to be a critical, life-saving technology. With that, I want to thank Patrick for creating and allowing me to cross-post this episode. I encourage you to subscribe to Complex Systems, where you can learn about all kinds of largely invisible but extremely interesting systems that support and in some cases govern modern life. And I hope you not only enjoy this conversation about the science and economics of antimicrobial UVC, but find yourself compelled to make a small investment now in your and your community's health, and in improved societal resilience to potential future pandemics. This is Patrick McKenzie, with Misha Gurevich and Vivian Belenky, CEO and Chief Scientist of Aerolamp, from the Complex Systems podcast.
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Thank you for being part of The Cognitive Revolution,
Nathan Labenz