Grad Student Rigs Cheap Alternative To $1,000 Air Purifiers In Smoggy China

An anonymous reader writes "University of Virginia grad student Thomas Talhelm was living in Beijing on a Fulbright Scholarship during the winter of 2012-13, when air pollution was so bad scientists likened it to a nuclear winter. Those who could afford it were resorting to an expensive solution: air filters costing up to $1,000. Talhem built his own on the cheap, getting comparable particulate count results, and has started a company that both markets the product to middle class Chinese and shows others how to DIY."

Re:Very original

[gstoddart]

More like people were overpaying by thousands of dollars because until now none of them had the simple idea to duct tape a filter over a fan.

Well, he went as far as confirming he was getting the same particle counts.

His solution was remarkably simple and really cheap. He strapped a HEPA filter to a fan and quickly began to enjoy clean air. A particle counter he purchased confirmed the filter was effective.

He's not saying "I just invented something revolutionary", he's just sticking it to the people selling over prices kit.

And in my book, that gets applause.