[ MUSIC ]
>> OUR PLANET IS FACING
AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS
AS WE CONTINUE TO WRESTLE
WITH THE IMPACTS
OF CORONAVIRUS.
WITH ITS UNPARALLELED
TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC
EXPERTISE, NASA HAS
JOINED THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.
ON APRIL 1ST, NASA LAUNCHED
AN AGENCY-WIDE CALL FOR IDEAS
FOR HOW WE COULD LEVERAGE
OUR UNMATCHED CAPABILITIES
TO HELP THE NATION
DURING THIS TRYING TIME.
FROM OXYGEN HOODS
TO VENTILATORS,
NASA ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS
HAVE DEVELOPED CONCEPTS
AND WORKED WITH PARTNERS
TO QUICKLY RESPOND
TO THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE,
I'M MARINA JURICA WITH NASA'S
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY,
AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER
VIRTUAL EPISODE
OF "NASA SCIENCE LIVE."
TODAY WE ARE TAKING YOU
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO HEAR FROM NASA EXPERTS
WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY
TO RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
FROM SUPERCOMPUTING EFFORTS
AND OXYGEN HELMETS
BEING DEVELOPED IN CALIFORNIA
TO SANITIZING TECHNOLOGIES
DEVELOPED IN OHIO,
HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS
NASA HAS CONTRIBUTED
TO HELP COMBAT
THIS GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS.
LAST MONTH, NASA SPACE APPS
COVID-19 CHALLENGE
INVITED CODERS, ENTREPRENEURS,
SCIENTISTS, DESIGNERS,
STORYTELLERS, BUILDERS,
ARTISTS, AND OTHERS
TO USE DATA FROM NASA
AND OTHER SPACE AGENCIES
TO DESIGN SOLUTIONS
RELATED TO COVID-19.
IN JUST TWO DAYS, MORE THAN
15,000 PEOPLE FROM 150 COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD
REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE GLOBAL HACKATHON
CREATING OVER 1,400 PRODUCTS
RANGING FROM MOBILE APPS,
WEBSITES, MUSIC, ART,
AND MORE.
CHALLENGE WINNERS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN VISIT
COVID-19.
SPACEAPPSCHALLENGE.ORG
TO LEARN MORE.
A NASA SUPER COMPUTER
USUALLY USED
FOR EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH
IS NOW BEING LEVERAGED
TO STUDY COVID-19.
AMONG OTHER PLANS,
TWO RESEARCHERS FROM NASA'S
AMES RESEARCH CENTER
IN CALIFORNIA ARE USING
THE POWERFUL COMPUTER
TO STUDY GENETIC
RISK FACTORS AND MORE.
RESEARCHERS AT NASA'S
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER
IN VIRGINIA
AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF AEROSPACE
ARE LENDING THEIR EXPERTISE
IN COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FLOW
OF A PERSON'S BREATH
THROUGH AN N95 MASK.
RESULTS FROM THEIR STUDY
ULTIMATELY COULD HELP
ENGINEERS DESIGN MASK FILTERS
THAT LAST LONGER AND KEEP OUT
MORE HARMFUL PARTICLES.
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
IS INCORPORATING
NASA EARTH SCIENCE DATA
SUCH AS TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY,
AND RAINFALL IN ITS ONLINE
COVID-19 DASHBOARD,
A LEADING MODEL
OF CORONAVIRUS SPREAD.
WHILE IT'S TOO SOON
TO DRAW ANY CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
AND THE SPREAD OF COVID-19,
RESEARCHERS SAY THAT
PULLING IN THE FULL ARSENAL
OF NASA EARTH OBSERVATIONS
COULD HELP US LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS DISEASE.
FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON EFFORTS
AROUND THE AGENCY,
VISIT NASA.GOV/CORONAVIRUS.
WHILE SOME MEMBERS
OF THE NASA FAMILY HAVE
DIRECTED THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP
COMBAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC,
OTHERS CONTINUE TO WORK
ON NASA MISSIONS.
BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS
AROUND THE WORLD,
THEY'RE DOING IT
FROM THEIR HOMES.
>> HI, I'M JANELLE WELLONS
AND I'M AN ENGINEER AT JPL.
>> I'M MIKE [ INDISTINCT ]
AND I'M A SPACE WEATHER
FORECASTER WITH NASA'S
GODDARD SPACEFLIGHT CENTER.
>> HI, EVERYONE,
MY NAME IS INIA SOTO RAMOS.
I AM THE DATA MANAGER
FOR EXPORT AND SVS
AT THE OCEAN ECOLOGY LAB
AT NASA GODDARD.
>> I'M ARMIN SOROOSHIAN.
>> MY NAME IS
MAMTA PATEL NAGARAJA.
>> I'M JORI,
AND I'M THE LIVE PRODUCER,
DIRECTOR FOR NASA HEADQUARTERS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS [ INDISTINCT ]
AND I WORK ON THE MARS
PERSEVERANCE ROVER.
>> I'M STEPHANIE OIJ,
AND I WORK AT
NASA JPL AS A MARS
CURIOSITY ROVER DRIVER.
>> LOOK, YOU CAN EVEN SEE
A SMALL ERUPTION
THAT'S GOING ON AS WE SPEAK.
>> AND, I COULDN'T GET AWAY
WITHOUT MENTIONING
MY FURRY PAL, LUNA.
>> ACROSS THE HOUSE IS
MY COWORKER,
WHO'S BUSY PLAYING TOYS
MOST OF THE DAYS.
>> SO, THIS IS MY DESK SETUP.
I AM IN MY LOFT,
WORKING ON A YARD SALE TABLE.
I AM MONITORING
THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
FOR THE NANCY GRACE ROMAN
SPACE TELESCOPE
WHILE ALSO MAKING SOME EDITS
TO SOME POSSIBLE SOCIAL PIECES.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU
A QUICK TOUR OF VIRTUAL EXHIBIT.
HERE WE ARE AT THE LOBBY
OF AMERICAN
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.
>> IN THE KITCHEN
IS MY SECOND COWORKER,
WHO'S BUSY IN A ZOOM MEETING.
>> AT JPL, I WORK ON
THE AUTONOMY
FOR MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS,
LIKE THESE SMALL-SCALE ROVERS
CALLED PUFFERS RIGHT HERE,
WHICH WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM
TO EXPLORE THE MOON
AND OTHER PLACES.
NORMALLY WE WOULD BE AT JPL
TESTING OUT IN THE MARS YARD,
BUT THESE DAYS
WE'RE TESTING RIGHT HERE
IN MY BACKYARD.
>> HERE WE CAN DO ALL
OF OUR ROBOTIC TEST PLANNING
FROM RIGHT HERE IN MY KITCHEN
WITH SOME FUN DECORATIONS.
>> AND YOU CAN SEE,
WHILE I'M WORKING FROM HOME,
I DO HAVE
SOME NEW COWORKERS.
THERE'S LOTS OF DANCING,
LOTS OF LAUGHTER,
SOMETIMES CRYING,
THEIRS AND MINE.
BUT WE'RE GETTING
THROUGH THESE TIMES.
>> HI.
>> TO DO OPERATIONS REMOTELY
WE WEAR TWO HEADSETS.
ON ONE EAR WE TALK
TO THE OTHER ROVER PLANNERS,
AND ON THE OTHER EAR IS
THE REST OF THE UPLINK TEAM.
ELLIE SEEMS TO LIKE MY NEW LOOK.
>> THE PRE-PLANNING WAS DONE
FROM RIGHT HERE.
AND THIS IS MY HOME OFFICE.
IT'S ALSO MY PERSONAL
CREATIVE SPACE.
AS EVIDENCE-- [ LAUGHING ]
THAT'S ONE OF MY PAINTINGS.
>> I GOT TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN
A LITTLE BIT,
BECAUSE MY OTHER COWORKER
IS ON A TELECON.
>> WORKING FROM HOME
IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT,
BUT AT LEAST
I GET TO ENJOY SMALL PERKS
LIKE GETTING TO WEAR
MY GAMING HEADSET EACH DAY.
>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE
WORKING AT HOME.
IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT.
SORT OF A BLESSING IN DISGUISE,
BECAUSE I GET TO SPEND
MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY.
BUT I HAVE MORE DUTIES AT HOME
AS A FATHER, SINCE WE DON'T
HAVE DAYCARE ANYMORE
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE
CHALLENGING TO DO MY WORK.
BUT IT'S ALL FUN SPENDING TIME
WITH THIS LITTLE GUY.
>> I AM OUTSIDE ENJOYING
THE NICE WEATHER
WITH MY NEW COWORKER
WHO IS CLEANING A LITTLE BIT.
AND WHILE I WORK
WITH SOME DATA FOR SVS--
HERE'S SOME OF THE DATA
I'M WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW,
I'M MAKING SURE THE DATA
IS CLEAN AND READY
TO BE ACHIEVED.
>> I DO LONG FOR THE DAY
FOR WHEN WE CAN
RETURN TO NORMAL,
BUT FOR NOW WE'RE PERSEVERING
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC
AND WORKING HARD TO ENSURE
THE SUCCESS OF OUR LAUNCH.
>> WELL, THAT'S IT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE
IN-PERSON AGAIN SOON.
>> WE'VE ALL HAD TO ADAPT
TO OUR WORK SPACES AT HOME.
AND I HAD TO MAKE A TV STUDIO
ON TOP OF MY CHINA CABINET,
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE,
AND MY SON LOVES
TO BRING THE DINOSAURS
INTO THE LIVING ROOM--
>> HI.
>> TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
ALL HAVING THE BEST TIME
WE POSSIBLY CAN
ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.
AND TODAY WE'RE JOINED
BY AN ENGINEER WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH SEVERAL PARTNERS
TO BUILD A MEDICAL DEVICE
TO HELP CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS
WITH THEIR EARLY SYMPTOMS.
>> WE'RE HERE TODAY DOING
SOME OF THE ASSEMBLY
OF THE OXYGEN PRESSURE HOODS.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH
OF TABLES SET UP, SPACED APART.
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TSE
AND NASA EMPLOYEES
COMING TOGETHER
AND ASSEMBLING THESE
IN SORT OF LIKE
A PRODUCTION LINE SETUP.
YOU CAN SEE AT EACH
DIFFERENT STATION
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
KIND OF GOING ON.
WE ARE LOOKING IN THE END
TO PRODUCE ABOUT 500 HOODS.
SO FAR THINGS ARE GOING
PRETTY WELL.
YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A HOOD HERE.
IT'S ABOUT HALFWAY DONE
AND IT'LL BE JUMPING THROUGH
A COUPLE MORE STATIONS
IN ORDER TO PUT THE SEAL
ON THE BOTTOM, ADD STRAPS,
AND THEN ULTIMATELY DO
A QUALITY INSPECTION
ON THE UNIT.
>> MIKE BUTTIGIEG,
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
>> HI, MARINA, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
>> NOW, MIKE,
YOUR TEAM AT ARMSTRONG
FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER
HAS PARTNERED WITH
ANTELOPE VALLEY HOSPITAL,
THE CITY OF LANCASTER,
VIRGIN GALACTIC,
THE SPACESHIP COMPANY,
AND ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE
TO CREATE THESE
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
FOR POSSIBLE SHORTAGES
OF CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.
AND YOU ARE INVOLVED
IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD
A PROTOTYPE OXYGEN HELMET
THAT DOCTORS ARE TESTING
FOR FUTURE USE.
CAN YOU TELL US EXACTLY WHAT
A POSITIVE PRESSURE HOOD IS?
I UNDERSTAND
IT'S LIKE A CPAP HELMET.
HOW DOES IT HELP PATIENTS
THAT HAVE COVID-19?
>> SURE, THE CPAP HELMET WORKS
ESSENTIALLY BY HAVING
AN ENCLOSED SPACE
OVER A PATIENT'S HEAD.
DOING THIS DOES
THREE MAJOR THINGS FOR US.
SO, THE FIRST IS THAT
BY ENCAPSULATING
THE PERSON'S HEAD,
WE'RE ABLE TO PRESSURIZE IT,
AND BY PRESSURIZING THE BAG,
WE'RE ABLE TO INFLATE
THE PERSON'S LUNGS.
SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH--
WHEN A PATIENT HAS COVID-19,
THEIR-- THE LUNG CAPACITY
IS REDUCED.
SO, BY PRESSURIZING THEIR LUNGS,
WE MAKE THE REMAINING AREA
OF THOSE LUNGS
TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE
THAN IF IT WAS NOT PRESSURIZED.
THE SECOND MAJOR POINT IS
WE'RE ABLE TO THEN
TAKE THAT ENCLOSED SPACE
AND ALSO FILL IT UP
WITH PURE OXYGEN.
SO, BY FILLING IT UP
WITH PURE OXYGEN,
WE'RE ABLE TO EVEN--
WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THAT
REMAINING SPACE IN THE LUNGS
AND TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER.
THIS AGAIN, FURTHER INCREASES
THE RECOVERY ABILITY
OF A COVID PATIENT.
LAST AND VERY IMPORTANT POINT
OF HAVING THIS HELMET
IS THAT THERE'S A SEAL
AROUND THE NECK,
AND IT PREVENTS ANY AIR
FROM ESCAPING THE PERSON
AS THEY'RE BREATHING.
SO, THERE IS
AN EXHALATION VALVE
WHICH IS FILTERED,
SO ALL THE COVID AIR
IS TRAPPED BEFORE IT LEAVES
THE PATIENT'S HELMET.
>> NOW AS YOU SAID,
IT TAKES A VILLAGE, MIKE,
AND YOU ALL HAD AN IDEA,
BUT IT WAS A HUGE
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
HOW DID YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER
FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES?
>> SURE. SO, WE HAD A TEAM
PUT TOGETHER BY ONE OF THE MAJOR
AEROSPACE COMPANIES HERE.
IT WAS COMPRISED OF, AGAIN,
OTHER AEROSPACE COMPANIES,
A LOCAL COLLEGE, A HOSPITAL,
AND CITY LEADERSHIP.
SO, THERE--
WHEN WE ALL CAME TOGETHER,
IT WAS VERY QUICKLY
WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND
THE SAME LANGUAGE
AS MANY OF US WERE ENGINEERS
OR VERY FOCUSED
ON A VERY SPECIFIC GOAL.
SO, WHAT MADE
THE TEAM SO EFFECTIVE
IS NOT SO MUCH THE IDEAS
THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THEM.
OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE
VERY IMPORTANT,
BUT IT'S THE CULMINATION
OF ALL THE PLAYERS
THAT MAKE IT A VERY IMPACTFUL
TYPE OF MISSION.
SO, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS
THAT IF YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA,
IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WELL,
HOW DO WE-- HOW DO WE GROW THAT
TO IMPACT OUR CITY
OR OUR STATE OR OUR COUNTRY
OR EVEN THE WORLD.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE
FROM MANY DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES
THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THOSE MAJOR KEY POINTS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVE INVENTORS,
YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTERS,
YOU HAVE FUNDING MANAGERS,
YOU HAVE LAWYERS,
YOU HAVE DOCTORS,
SO YOU HAVE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PEOPLE ON THE TEAM
THAT ARE ABLE TO MAKE
A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE.
THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE
IS THAT IT'S--
WITH ANY EFFECTIVE TEAM,
YOU NEED TO HAVE A COMMON GOAL.
OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMON GOAL HERE
IS HELPING COVID PATIENTS.
AND SO, WHEN YOU-- WHEN A TEAM
SHARES SUCH A STRONG GOAL,
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS
WITH HOW MUCH YOU CAN HELP.
>> THAT'S AMAZING WHEN
EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER
WITH THAT ONE COMMON GOAL.
AND YOU SAID IT'S
A VERY SIMPLE DEVICE,
BUT IT REQUIRES
EXTENSIVE TESTING.
IT'S TAKING OVER
A LOT OF YOUR TIME.
>> IT SURE HAS.
ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF MY LIFE
WAS PRETTY MUCH DEDICATED
TO DEVELOPING THIS HOOD.
>> AND WE'VE ALL HAD TO GET
A LITTLE CREATIVE WITH OUR WORK
AND AT-HOME SPACES.
I KNOW EARLIER I SHOWED YOU
THAT I HAD TO TURN
MY LIVING ROOM INTO A TV STUDIO,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE
I'M TALKING TO YOU
FROM A GARAGE.
IS THAT YOUR HOME LAB?
>> IT IS.
THIS IS THE GARAGE
WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF MY TIME
DEVELOPING THE HOODS
AND DOING SOME TESTING,
AND IT'S WORKED OUT GREAT.
>> IT LOOKS REALLY GREAT,
AND YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE
A LOT OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU NEED RIGHT THERE
ON HAND, WHICH IS GREAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US TODAY, MIKE.
>> THANK YOU, MARINA.
>> AND NASA EMPLOYEES
MET THE NEED
WITH A SPEED OF RESPONSE,
AND AEROSPACE VALLEY TASK FORCE
STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE WITH
NOT ONLY THESE OXYGEN HOODS,
THEY'VE WORKED ON
PROTECTIVE ENCLOSURES,
SAFE OXYGEN
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS,
AND 3D PRINTING
FOR MASS PRODUCTION
OF LOW-COST MEDICAL NEEDS
JUST TO NAME A FEW
AS THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD IN THIS EFFORT.
ANOTHER URGENCY
IS TO SUPPLY VENTILATORS,
AND IT HAS BECOME A TOP PRIORITY
TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
BUT ALSO TO NASA'S
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY.
THEIR ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS
HAVE EMBARKED ON A MISSION
TO HELP PROVIDE A SOLUTION
TO THE NATIONWIDE
VENTILATOR SHORTAGE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> WE ARE DESIGNING AN EASY
AND RAPIDLY MASS MANUFACTUREABLE
VENTILATOR DEVICE,
AND IT IS A CRAZY PROJECT.
>> THIS CRISIS IS UNPRECEDENTED
IN OUR LIVES,
AND IT REQUIRES
UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
>> I'M SO AMPED UP.
I MEAN, IT REALLY--
THE ADRENALINE RUSH.
IT'S EXCITING,
BUT IT'S EXHAUSTING,
AND I THINK WE ALL JUST WANT
TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO TRY TO HELP.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> YEAH.
[ WHIRRING ]
>> OH, VERY COOL.
THAT'S AWESOME.
>> I WOULD SAY,
THE BIGGEST PERSONAL CHALLENGES
THAT I HAVE MYSELF
IS THAT I DON'T
HAVE TIME TO SLEEP.
>> I THINK THAT WHAT JPL
BRINGS TO THE TABLE
IS EXTRAORDINARY TALENT.
IT ALSO BRINGS TO THE TABLE
TREMENDOUS INNOVATION.
THE THIRD THING
IT BRINGS TO THE TABLE
IS TREMENDOUS FOCUS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I FELT,
I SEE IT IN OUR TEAM,
AND THAT IS A CALL TO DUTY.
I HAVE THIS TALENT,
I'M AN ENGINEER OR A SCIENTIST,
I CAN DO SOMETHING.
>> WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO SAVE HUMAN LIVES,
PEOPLE THAT WE MIGHT KNOW,
OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILIES.
AND THAT INTENSITY?
UM... AMAZING.
IT'S AMAZING.
AND AS STRESSFUL,
AS IT'S BEEN FOR EVERYBODY
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,
NOT ONE OF US CAN STOP.
[ MUSIC ]
>> TEAMS AT JPL HAVE CREATED
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
SUCH AS RESPIRATORS
AND EVEN AN INFRARED PENDANT
TO WARN YOU NOT
TO TOUCH YOUR FACE
AND HAVE MADE THOSE
OPEN-SOURCE ON GITHUB
FOR THE COMMUNITY
TO BUILD AND REFINE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYONE
WANTS TO DO THEIR PART.
AS NASA ENGINEERS
AND SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FURTHER
AID COVID-19 PATIENTS,
THEY ALSO ARE CONDUCTING
RESEARCH TO SEE HOW
WE CAN FURTHER MINIMIZE
THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUSES
IN SPACES SUCH AS AMBULANCES
AND HOSPITALS.
WE'RE JOINED BY MARIT MAYER,
A RESEARCHER AT NASA'S
GLENN RESEARCH CENTER
IN CLEVELAND
WHO IS WORKING
WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY
TO DEVELOP AN AEROSOL PRODUCT
THAT COULD DISINFECT
ENCLOSED SPACES
LIKE CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES.
MARIT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE
THANK YOU.
>> AND YOU ARE JOINING US
FROM A LITTLE BIT
OF A NOISY LOCATION,
A HOME TO YOU, THOUGH, FOR SURE.
>> YES, I'M IN THE LABORATORY
HERE AT GLENN RESEARCH CENTER,
AND THE VENTILATION SYSTEM
IS VERY LOUD,
BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS
SO I CAN'T TURN IT OFF, SORRY.
>> OH, NO, NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
NOW YOU'RE AN AEROSOL EXPERT.
IT'S PRETTY FASCINATING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS,
AND WHY IT'S COME
INTO THE LIMELIGHT DURING
THIS FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19?
>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE
THAT AEROSOLS ARE
TINY PARTICLES IN AIR,
AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE USUALLY
ASSOCIATED THE WORD "AEROSOL"
WITH DEODORANT OR HAIRSPRAY.
SO, I'VE BEEN EDUCATING PEOPLE,
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A PANDEMIC,
AND PEOPLE ARE BECOMING AWARE
OF DROPLETS COMING OUT
OF THEIR MOUTHS
WHEN THEY BREATH,
WHEN THEY TALK.
THEN EVERYONE HAS
A HIGHER AWARENESS,
AND PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING
TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD
"AEROSOL" REALLY MEANS,
AND EVERYONE
IN THE AEROSOL COMMUNITY
IS STEPPING UP TO EDUCATE
THE WORLD ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW.
>> AND, MARIT,
IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATION.
THAT'S SO IMPORTANT
SO WE UNDERSTAND.
NOW YOU ARE WORKING
ON A DISINFECTANT FOGGER.
YOUR WORK WITH
THE LIFE SUPPORT
SYSTEMS PROGRAM
ADDRESSES THE AIR QUALITY
IN REALLY TIGHT QUARTERS
LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT RESEARCH THERE
WILL HELP YOU WHEN YOU DEVELOP
THIS PARTICULAR FOGGER?
>> SO, WHEN I STARTED LOOKING
INTO THE AIR QUALITY
ON THE SPACE STATION,
I STARTED BY DOING AN INVENTORY
OF WHAT I BELIEVED
WERE THE POLLUTANT PARTICLES
THAT WERE FLOATING
AROUND UP THERE
FOR THE ASTRONAUTS TO BREATHE.
AND I DID AN INVENTORY,
WHICH STARTED WITH A TABLE
FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE ERA,
AND THEY HAD LISTED COUGH
AND SNEEZE DROPLETS.
AT THAT TIME, I DIDN'T THINK
THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF AEROSOLS
IN THE TIGHT QUARTERS
OF THE SPACE STATION.
HOWEVER, NOW THAT WE'VE
HAD A PANDEMIC,
I SEE COUGH AND SNEEZE DROPLETS
COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY.
IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY TRANSPORT,
HOW LONG THEY LAST
BEFORE THEY EVAPORATE.
THEY CAN ALL BE CARRYING
VIABLE VIRUSES THAT--
IF THEY ARE EXHALED FROM
AN INFECTED PERSON FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, THE DISINFECTANT FOGGER
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
WORKING WITH HERE
IS A WAY TO GET RID OF ALL
OF THE POLLUTANT PARTICLES
THAT HAVE LIFE,
ANY KIND OF VIABLE VIRUS,
OR BACTERIA IN IT,
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH
THE SECOND GENERATION
OF THIS FOGGER,
HELPING THE COMPANY
OPTIMIZE THE SETTINGS.
I'M GOING TO MEASURE
THE PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
TO UNDERSTAND THE FATE
AND TRANSPORT OF THESE DROPLETS
AND HOW MUCH WE NEED
OF THE DISINFECTANT TO DISPERSE
TO BE ABLE TO DISINFECT
LARGE SPACES SUCH AS CLASSROOMS,
PLACES OF WORSHIP,
CONCERT VENUES, ET CETERA.
>> YES, I REMEMBER
YOU TELLING ME
THIS IS MUCH MORE POWERFUL,
THIS SECOND-GENERATION FOGGER.
AND YOU MENTIONED
YOUR PARTNERING
WITH THE EMERGENCY PRODUCT
AND RESEARCH TEAM,
AND YOU'D LIKE TO GET
THIS PROTOTYPE CHEAP ENOUGH
FOR ALL CUSTOMERS
AND GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
THAT'S BEEN SUCH A HUGE EFFORT.
WHY DO YOU THINK THIS PRODUCT
IS GOING TO HELP
KEEP THE ECONOMY
OR AT LEAST GET THE ECONOMY
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN?
>> WELL WE'VE ALL BEEN
SHELTERING IN PLACE,
AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT,
AND NOW WE'RE BEGINNING
TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT
AND BE IN PUBLIC SPACES AGAIN.
AND PEOPLE NEED
TO HAVE CONFIDENCE
THAT THESE SPACES ARE CLEAN.
WE HAVE TO CLEAN IN NEW WAYS
THAT WE NEVER CLEANED BEFORE,
AND THIS DISINFECTANT FOGGER
CAN BE USED INEXPENSIVELY
IN ANY KIND OF BUSINESS.
AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE ABLE
TO HELP KIND OF WITH THE EFFORT
TO GET AMERICA UP
AND RUNNING AGAIN,
TO GET BUSINESSES OPEN,
AND HAVE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE
GOING OUT IN PUBLIC AGAIN.
AND I HAVE A GREAT TEAM
OF COLLEAGUES HERE AT NASA GLENN
IN MY BRANCH THAT ARE HELPING ME
WITH THIS EXCITING WORK,
AND WE'RE-- WE JUST ARE
HAPPY TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION,
AND THIS IS A REGIONAL COMPANY,
A REGIONAL PROJECT,
BUT IT REALLY HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO HELP
EVERYONE IN AMERICA
AND IN THE WORLD AS WELL.
>> THAT'S SO AMAZING, MARIT,
AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
IS SO IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY AS WE TRY
TO GO BACK TO NORMAL.
AND YOU'VE HAD TO GET
A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE
AS YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING.
I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT TO GO BACK
TO YOUR LAB NOW,
BUT YOU HAD TO BE
A LITTLE CREATIVE OVER
THE LAST FEW WEEKS, DIDN'T YOU?
>> YES, I DID,
AND WHEN WE FIRST GOT
THE DISINFECTANT FOGGER
FROM THE COMPANY,
WE HAD TO MEET IN A PAVILION
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK,
AND MY TEAM WAS THERE,
AND OUR CONTACT GAVE US
A DEMONSTRATION AND EXPLAINED
THE WHOLE SYSTEM
OUT IN THE PAVILION
WHILE IT WAS RAINING
CATS AND DOGS AROUND US.
SO, THAT WAS, LIKE, A KIND OF
A MAKESHIFT ARRANGEMENT,
BUT AT THE TIME WE HAD TO GET
THIS COMMUNICATION DONE.
AND BEING OUT IN THE OPEN,
IT'S GREAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WE HAD A LOT OF FRESH AIR TO
DISPERSE OUR EXHALED AEROSOLS.
>> A SCIENTIST LIKE YOU,
MARIT, THAT JUST WANT
TO GET THE JOB DONE
AND MAKE A GLOBAL INFLUENCE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND GOOD LUCK WITH
YOUR CONTINUED RESEARCH.
>> THANKS, IT'S BEEN GREAT
TALKING TO YOU, MARINA.
>> YOU, TOO.
NOW THIS HAS TRULY BEEN
REWARDING WORK.
AND SPEAKING OF OUR PLANET,
AS PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE
ARE RESPONDING
TO THE IMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19,
MANY OF US HAVE CHANGED
OUR DAILY HABITS,
INCLUDING HOW MUCH WE TRAVEL.
THESE CHANGES ARE HAVING
AN IMPACT ON OUR PLANET,
AND NASA SCIENTISTS ARE
MONITORING OUR GLOBE'S RESPONSE
TO THESE UNUSUAL TIMES.
I'M JOINED WITH BARRY LEFER,
A NASA AIR QUALITY SCIENTIST
TO GET SOME PERSPECTIVE
ON WHAT RECENT EARTH DATA
IS TELLING US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US TODAY, BARRY.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S MY PLEASURE
TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
>> NOW, BARRY, TELL US MORE
ABOUT THE CHANGES
THAT WE'RE SEEING
ACROSS THE PLANET
IN THE RECENT MONTHS
SINCE THESE STAY-AT-HOME EFFORTS
HAVE BEEN IN PLACE.
IT'S VERY UNUSUAL,
SO HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES
IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE OR,
SAY, THE EARTH'S AIR QUALITY?
>> YES, THERE HAVE.
WE'VE DONE THIS
UNINTENDED GLOBAL EXPERIMENT
BY REDUCING THE TRANSPORTATION--
THAT'S AUTOMOBILES
AND AIRCRAFT.
THESE STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS,
AND NASA HAS-- NASA SATELLITES
ARE SAMPLING DAY AND NIGHT
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH OUR ACTIVITY
HAS BEEN DECREASED,
THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE
THESE CHANGES HASN'T,
AND WE SEEN DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS
IN THE POLLUTANTS BEING EMITTED
FROM THESE ACTIVITIES.
INITIALLY IN CHINA AND ITALY,
AND THEN AS THE STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER SPREAD
TO OTHER COUNTRIES,
IN THE UNITED STATES
AND MOST RECENTLY
IN SOUTH AMERICA.
>> AND THESE HAVE BEEN
REALLY TRYING TIMES,
BUT YOU'RE LEARNING
SO MUCH ABOUT IT,
AND AS FOLKS CONTINUE
TO STAY AT HOME,
AND YOU CONTINUE TO DECIPHER
THROUGH MORE AND MORE OF
THIS DATA IN THE COMING MONTHS,
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT
FROM WHERE WE'VE SEEN SO FAR
AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO USE
THIS MATERIAL TO MOVE FORWARD
INTO THE FUTURE?
>> YEAH, WE'RE TRYING
TO MAKE THE BEST
OF THIS BAD SITUATION,
SO WE'RE MAKING--
WE'RE TAKING THESE LEMONS
AND MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF IT.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT
WHAT WE UNDERSTAND
ABOUT AIR POLLUTION,
IT'S REALLY TESTING OUR ABILITY
TO SEE HOW WELL CAN WE FORECAST
AIR POLLUTION, HOW WELL--
AND IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS
HOW PEOPLE'S ACTIONS
REALLY MAKE A LARGE DIFFERENCE.
JUST BY NOT DRIVE-- BY THINKING
ABOUT TAKING A TRIP --
DO YOU REALLY NEED
TO TAKE THAT TRIP?
I LEARNED THAT I DON'T
HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY,
THAT I CAN DO A LOT OF THE STUFF
THAT I NORMALLY DO
JUST FROM HOME,
AND IN THE PROCESS
POLLUTING LESS.
AND SO, ALL THESE ADVANTAGES,
ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE DO
THAT EMIT LESS AIR POLLUTION
ALSO EMIT LESS CO2,
AND SO THERE'S
A CLIMATE BENEFIT AS WELL.
>> IT'S FASCINATING TO SEE
THIS DIRECT CORRELATION,
AND WHAT I THINK IS SO KEY
IS THE EDUCATION,
AND NASA AND ITS PARTNERS
ARE PUTTING TOGETHER
THIS INCREDIBLE DASHBOARD
IN A BROWSER
SO EVERYONE CAN SEE
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OF STAYING AT HOME.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS
WILL HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT?
>> YEAH, THIS IS REALLY
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
WE CAN HARNESS
ALL THE CAPABILITIES
OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
WORKING TOGETHER.
THE DIFFERENT SPACE AGENCIES
MEASURE DIFFERENT THINGS,
AND BY PUTTING THIS
JOINT DASHBOARD TOGETHER,
OUR HOPE IS PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE
TO SEE HOW THE THINGS
THEY DO EVERY DAY
DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S EASY TO BE OVERWHELMED
BY THESE REALLY LARGE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS,
BUT IT TURNS OUT
YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES
REALLY DO MATTER.
AND IT'S NOT JUST DRIVING
IN YOUR CAR
OR TAKING AIR TRAVEL,
BUT ALSO WHERE YOU GET
YOUR ELECTRICITY FROM.
AND SO, THIS-THIS
UNINTENDED EXPERIMENT
HAS HELPED US UNDERSTAND
HOW WELL WE-- HOW IMPORTANT
OUR DAILY DECISIONS ARE,
AND HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND IMPROVE THE PLANET.
>> AND, BARRY, WHAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND
IS THAT AIR POLLUTION
CAN HAVE A DRASTIC EFFECT
ON PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
MORE THAN 7 MILLION PEOPLE
DIE EVERY YEAR
FROM AIR POLLUTION
RELATED ILLNESSES,
AND THE-- MILLIONS MORE
HAVE REACTIONS TO AIR POLLUTION
SUCH AS ASTHMA.
AND SO, THOSE PEOPLE
ARE SEEING-- THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT ARE SENSITIVE
TO AIR POLLUTION
ARE NOTICING THAT
THEY'RE BREATHING EASIER,
AND IT'S GREAT THAT SOME CITIES
NOW HAVE STARTED TO BLOCK OFF
SOME OF THEIR STREETS TO TRAFFIC
AND HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR BIKING AND OTHER FORMS
OF WALKING THROUGH
THEIR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS
IN WAYS THEY HADN'T BEEN
ABLE TO DO UNTIL NOW.
>> OH, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES
AND I HAVE SAID THAT AS WELL.
JUST WALKING AROUND
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WE GET TO SEE
SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
A CHANCE TO OTHERWISE.
SO, LIKE YOU SAID, MAKING LEMONS
OUT INTO LEMONADE,
SO, BARRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US TODAY
>> THANK YOU, IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> HUMANS ARE CONNECTED THROUGH
EARTH'S VIVID BLUE OCEANS,
LUSH GREEN LANDS,
AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCES
WE SHARE TOGETHER
ON OUR PLANET.
HOWEVER, WE ARE NOW CONNECTED
BY A GREATER COMMONALITY--
THE SHARED GOAL
TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS.
HERE AT NASA WE REACH
FOR NEW HEIGHTS
AND REVEAL THE UNKNOWN
FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANKIND.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
WE ASKED SOME OF OUR NASA FAMILY
TO SHARE A FEW WORDS
ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED THEM
TO WORK ON THESE PROJECTS.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH HEMMINGS.
>> MY NAME IS YVONNE IVEY.
>> MY NAME IS [ INDISTINCT ]
>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE EASTER.
>> MY NAME IS SHOBHANA GUPTA.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US
IN UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING WAYS.
I AM VERY INSPIRED
TO SEE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS COMING TOGETHER
AND SHARING THEIR IDEAS,
CREATIVITY, AND TALENTS
TO FIND SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.
>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE
THAT MASS COLLABORATION
CAN SOLVE SOME
OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES
WE FACE ON EARTH.
>> WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING
AS SCIENTISTS,
AND GLOBALLY EVERYONE
CAN COME TOGETHER
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S A GREAT FEELING
TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY EXPEDIATE
AND HELP FIND A CURE QUICKER
THAN POSSIBLE INDIVIDUALLY.
>> IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
EXPERIENCE TO WORK
WITH THESE SCIENTISTS
AND CONTENT DEVELOPERS
ACROSS ALL OF THE AGENCIES,
AND I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED
FOR OTHERS TO SEE
HOW SCIENCE CAN REALLY EXPAND
OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
>> I'M VERY PLEASED AND EXCITED,
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY
AND ALONG WITH THE STAFF
IN MY DIVISION
WOULD PLAY A ROLE
AND HAVE AN IMPACT
IN UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE
AND POSSIBLY CONTROLLING
THE PANDEMIC.
>> IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY
INSPIRING EXPERIENCE,
AND PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPACTFUL THING
THAT I'VE GOTTEN OUT OF IT
IS JUST A FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
WHEN WE TEAM TOGETHER,
AND WE USE
OUR TECHNICAL MINDSETS
DURING AN OTHERWISE
POWERLESS SITUATION,
WE CAN REALLY EMPOWER
OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.
IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
BE A PART OF IT.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW
NASA WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS,
PLEASE VISIT
NASA.GOV/CORONAVIRUS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY
ON "NASA SCIENCE LIVE."
BE WELL AND BE SAFE.
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