[katieHaylor (OP)]

Mark asks:

Would it be possible to make the Covid-19 invisible virus visible in the form of virus spectacles?
I suppose the idea comes from watching CSI many years ago, is this something that is possible and or used in real life?

Can you help?

[alancalverd]

Literally, no. Viruses are generally smaller than the wavelength of visible light so you won't be able to see individuals.

However if you could produce a fluorescent stain that uniquely  attached to a particular strain of virus, you could detect the presence of a significant infection.

There's a lot of hokum in CSI. The good guys win, whereas in real life the criminals get to be president.

[Petrochemicals]

Literally, no. Viruses are generally smaller than the wavelength of visible light so you won't be able to see individuals.

However if you could produce a fluorescent stain that uniquely  attached to a particular strain of virus, you could detect the presence of a significant infection.

There's a lot of hokum in CSI. The good guys win, whereas in real life the criminals get to be president.

You could florese the virus, or everyone could take a dye that makes body fluids become visible under a uv lamp, thus if anyone in the supermarket farted, using your uv showing speks there could be a chance the luminescent plume may be something you wish to avoid. Its not quite what you asked but its the best I can do. After all water is near enough clear and aerosol water and viruses are not visible due to there minutiae.

[Bored chemist]

Literally, no. Viruses are generally smaller than the wavelength of visible light so you won't be able to see individuals.

However if you could produce a fluorescent stain that uniquely  attached to a particular strain of virus, you could detect the presence of a significant infection.

There's a lot of hokum in CSI. The good guys win, whereas in real life the criminals get to be president.

You could florese the virus, or everyone could take a dye that makes body fluids become visible under a uv lamp, thus if anyone in the supermarket farted, using your uv showing speks there could be a chance the luminescent plume may be something you wish to avoid. Its not quite what you asked but its the best I can do. After all water is near enough clear and aerosol water and viruses are not visible due to there minutiae.

"You could florese the virus, or everyone could take a dye that makes body fluids become visible under a uv lamp, thus if anyone in the supermarket farted, using your uv showing speks there could be a chance the luminescent plume may be something you wish to avoid. Its not quite what you asked but its the best I can do. After all water is near enough clear and aerosol water and viruses are not visible due to there minutiae."
Thanks for that.

[alancalverd]

The idea of shoppers wearing NVG headgear in addition to their masks, spraying tracer dyes ahead of them as they weave through a blacked-out Tesco under UV lamps, certainly adds a frisson to the retail experience which will be heightened by the occasional flash and bleep of the scan-as-you-shop lasers. "Active fart in your 2 o'clock - scanner to KILL" "I'll take him, skipper, you go for the toilet paper".

However COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, broadcast through exhalate and sputum. Whilst priests, politicians and philosophers speak through their anal orifices, you won't detect much in the farts of real humans.