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A Bathroom That Cleans Itself
FiReaNGeL writes "Researchers at the University of New South Wales are developing new coatings they hope will be used for self-cleaning surfaces in hospitals and the home. It's made of a special nanoparticle coating that absorbs ultraviolet light below a certain wavelength and gives the particles an oxidizing quality stronger than any commercial bleach. Say goodbye to tedious bathroom cleaning!"
Business partnerships, anyone?
Hey, remember, your toothbrush has flecks of feces on it. I'm sure a few oxidized organic compounds won't hurt you.
People (at least the ones I know) do not clean their bathroom for health reasons. They do it because it's it's visually discusting. Now matter how healthy this new substance is, it will NOT get rid of the yellow stains on and around the toilet.
Life is not for the lazy.
This would presumably work by catalyzing the oxidation (i.e. removal of electrons from) of organic molecules at or very near the surface. In other words, it will kill cells and decolorize componds that are on the surface where there's plenty of light.
This won't hurt your fingers for two reasons. First, the surface cells are already dead. Second, it probably won't even work when a large opaque object (your finger) is blocking the light.
Actually... it does, but it doesn't mean airborne.
damn, where's mod points when you need them!!!
on another note, a student of mine once said that the shortest sentence in the English language is "I am". The longest sentence is "I do".
My problem? I was perfectly gruntled, until some numbnuts came by and dissed me.
gives the particles an oxidizing quality stronger than any commercial bleach
So I guess no more walking barefoot in the bathroom anymore, given that prolonged contact with skin is something you're not supposed to do with bleach, and this stuff is worse.
Hey, you don't need to be afraid to say it. It's the truth. Once you're married, she sure as hell is going to make sure you clean that bathroom until it's spotless!
:)
If you think that's a joke, try getting married.
... because this is the best answer I have ever seen to the question "So what do you do that cannot more profitably automated or outsourced to $COUNTRY_WITH_LOWER_STANDARD_OF_LIVING?" and it was posted by a janitor.
Help poke pirates in the eyepatch, arr.