We’ve all become a lot more self-conscious about sneezing since COVID-19 came along. Whether you’re out in the street or worse in crowded public transport, sneezing gets you more concerned looks than it did before, and people tend to keep their distance.

On top of that, we now all better understand how sneezing works. That’s right, by sneezing we propel micro-droplets of mucus potentially full of germs into the air. Indeed, MIT research showed that the mist of mucus and saliva released by a sneeze can reach speeds of 100 mph and be projected over 8 metres! Thanks to high-speed cameras, scientists have also noticed that once the sneeze has passed, a cloud containing droplets can remain suspended in the air for several minutes.

How does sneezing work then? Why do some people hold back sneezes? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions !

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 14/9/2022

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