From technology and measurement to health and food disinfection, these articles reflect where the field of UV focused its attention in 2025. Together, they highlight the topics, challenges and advances that resonated most with our readers throughout the year. As we move forward with the first issue of 2026, we’re taking a moment to look back at the UV Solutions articles that captured the most interest in 2025 – offering a snapshot of the ideas and priorities that shaped the year and continue to influence the road ahead.
1. Measuring the Difference in UV-C Emitter Placement Strategies Using Electronic Dosimeters
How can hospitals disinfect rooms faster and more thoroughly? This article examines the power of UV-C disinfection robots and compares different placement strategies from static to fully autonomous models. The authors combine computer simulation with real-world tests in hospital settings to reveal how moving robots measure up against stationary emitters when it comes to killing germs, overcoming shadows and achieving consistent coverage.
2. Relating Exposure from GUV Systems to Exposure to Ambient UV-B (and UV-A) Solar Radiation
Germicidal UV (GUV) systems are gaining attention for their ability to fight airborne pathogens, but how do their risks stack up against everyday sunlight exposure? This article breaks down new research comparing UV-C exposure from GUV systems in indoor spaces to natural solar UV radiation outside. It tackles common concerns about skin and eye safety, explains key biological effects and reveals why well-designed GUV systems may be safer than assumed.
3. SpaceUV’s UV-C Upper Air UVGI Systems
SpaceUV Systems, a recent IUVA RadLaunch awardee from India, is raising the bar in air disinfection with its advanced UVGI technologies designed for dusty environments. By redesigning fixtures with vertical optical surfaces and leveraging cutting-edge simulations, SpaceUV’s team has tackled dust buildup, ensuring stable germicidal output in tough conditions. They blend high-tech solutions with practical innovations for safer indoor air.
4. UV Technology Lights the Way to Plant Vaccines: Boosting Plant Defenses to Extend Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables
As scientists developed vaccines to protect humans from disease, a similar revolution is taking shape in agriculture which uses light to “immunize” plants. Researchers are discovering that targeted exposure to UV-B and UV-C light can trigger natural defense mechanisms, helping crops fend off pathogens, delay spoilage and reduce the need for chemical pesticides. This emerging science of UV-induced plant protection could transform how people grow, preserve and protect food from the field to the table.
5. UV Degradation Effects in Materials – An Elementary Overview
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light is a powerful tool for disinfection, but its high-energy photons can also damage the very materials used to harness it. Unlike the UV found in sunlight, UV-C doesn’t reach Earth’s surface—meaning data on its effects are limited and often misunderstood. This article explores how metals, ceramics, glass and polymers respond to UV exposure, revealing which materials stand strong, which degrade and what can be done to protect them in UV-driven applications.