So far, the new chemical has been effective against Ebola, dengue and herpes simplex when tested in a lab environment. But what makes this completely new molecule a so-called "magic bullet" is its ability to fight off the viruses regardless of any mutations they naturally make over time. Zika, for example, mutates rapidly, making it particularly difficult to develop a vaccine to combat it. While, IBM and IBN began their research before the Zika outbreak reached "alarming proportions," they hope to partner with a pharmaceutical company soon to test the chemical's effectiveness against the virus.

For now, however, the two groups are exploring ways to put their new chemical into consumer goods like anti-viral wipes or a vaporized version that could be used in hospitals to prevent further outbreaks.