A single sneeze can launch up to 100,000 germ-filled droplets into the air.

When you sneeze, your body forcefully expels air from the lungs at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour). Research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2014 revealed that these droplets do not just fly individually. Instead, they travel in a high-momentum 'gas cloud' that can carry germs up to 26 feet (8 meters) away.The sneeze contains a mixture of large droplets and microscopic aerosols. While gravity pulls the larger, heavier droplets to the floor within seconds, the smaller aerosols can remain suspended in the air for several hours. This is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation where pathogens can linger.A study published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics explained that the moist, warm environment of the sneeze cloud protects the droplets from evaporating too quickly. This allows viruses like influenza or rhinoviruses to remain infectious for longer periods. One sneeze can contain millions of individual viral particles, making it a highly efficient mechanism for disease transmission.The reflex itself is triggered by the trigeminal nerve, which detects irritants in the nasal lining. While the primary biological goal is to clear the nasal cavity of dust or allergens, the evolutionary byproduct is a powerful delivery system for respiratory infections. This is why health organizations like the CDC emphasize covering sneezes to break the chain of transmission.