The norovirus can be nasty. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in humans. It is also extremely contagious. You might remember several cases of outbreaks in cruise ships on the news. This virus is estimated to have caused over 90% of epidemic nonbacterial gastroenteritis in the entire world. So it only makes sense that scientists want to understand the virus better. That’s what Larry the vomiting robot is all about.

At the Health and Safety Laboratory in Derbyshire, northern England, researcher Catherine Makison developed this humanoid simulated vomiting system. Yeah, Larry sounds much nicer. When scientists analyzed his reach, they found that small droplets of sickness can spread over three meters.

You see, vomiting, robots and science are all making great strides every time Larry spews. Larry Spews. That would have been a good name. Or Barf Simpson. Maybe just simply Ralph.

[via Neatorama]