When reused, the decontaminated robots still picked up plastic and microbes, albeit smaller amounts of both.

In hospitals, his system uses electromagnetic fields to track surgical instruments, ensuring they are decontaminated and sterilised properly, and available in the right place at the right time.

The building was evacuated and 12 people were decontaminated, with 11 being sent to hospitals where they were in stable condition, the fire authority said.

Infected flocks are normally destroyed to prevent the flu’s spread, and then the farms are decontaminated.

Once carefully decontaminated, this water can be reused for further cutting.