Jaguar Land Rover Wants to Stop Viruses and Bacteria Dead at Their Tracks

Summer is finally here, but that doesn't mean flu and cold viruses aren't ready to strike you any time.

Jaguar Land Rover thinks it has the answer to this problem: use Ultraviolet Light Technology (UVC) to get rid of all these "bugs".

What is Ultraviolet Light Technology (UVC)?

UVC comes from the sun's rays, and a common feature in the medical industry for more than 70 years. This "light" technology, which utilizes wavelengths of light between 200-280 nanometers, can effectively disinfect and sterilize water and solid surfaces to get rid of pathogens like bacteria and viruses.

In fact, it's even potent enough to neutralize superbugs that have developed immunity to antibiotics and other human-manufactured drugs. According to MSN, recent tests show that it can cut four major drug-resistant superbugs (MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), C. difficile and Acinetobacter.) by up to 30 percent.

Land Rover hopes to use the same technology in its future models, and believes that it can stop the spread of bacteria and viruses from surviving inside a car's cabin.  The idea is to place the UVC inside the air conditioning system, where it breaks down exposed pathogens and immediately neutralizes them. The result is clean--and a highly-sterilized--air released from the air-conditioner.

Utilizing cars for better health care

Jaguar Land Rover is continuously exploring ways to provide "a wide range of driver and passenger well-being features as it works towards a self-driving future."

"The average motorist spends as much as 300 hours per year behind the wheel," said Dr. Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover chief medical officer, in the statement. "There is a clear opportunity to better utilize cars for administering preventative health care."

Immunology Expert Dr. Hellmut Munch said that one of the biggest threats of our species today is the rise of superbugs and allergens in the environment.

"The rise of superbugs and allergens is one of the largest threats we face as a species today. Investment in immunology is vital in ensuring that our immune systems stay ahead of the race against microorganisms, which are evolving far quicker than traditional pharmaceuticals can keep pace with. It is important that we continue to take an innovative look at how we can adapt our environment to help prevent the spread of the most harmful pathogens--which is why this research is paramount," he said.