"They Just Explode" - Fighting Viruses With Sound

According to a study from the University of São Paulo in Brazil that was published in Scientific Reports, spherical viruses are vulnerable to ultrasonic vibrations. The targeted sound waves can rupture their outer membrane, affecting their ability to infect a host.

The experiment used hospital issue ultrasound machines to attack the viruses, then introduced the viruses to host cells in vitro. They found indications that the physical viruses had been compromised, which hindered their ability to infect other cells.

Hypothetically, the sound waves would not affect host cells. The spherical shape of the virus membrane makes it susceptible to vibrations, and the shape would not be changed when the virus mutates. 

For more information, head over to Science Alert.