It may just be the perfect COVID-19 mask. And don’t be surprised when countless other gadget makers follow suit. As COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S., masks have become a hot commodity. We’ve seen masks that are cheap . Masks that are reusable and easy to sterilize. And even masks that let you drink . But slowly, it seems that big consumer technology companies are realizing the potential market at play and starting to introduce a new wave of innovative masks with the same enticing features of any must-have gadget. Read Full Story

You should absolutely wear a mask in public. But experts agree—be careful it doesn’t make you feel invincible. The science is certain at this point : Wearing a mask can help reduce the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19. But masks alone are far from perfect. Over the past two weeks, as masks have gone from optional to mandatory in many states, I’ve noticed a shift in behavior. I’ve seen people wearing masks at small get-togethers and people wearing masks in stores—all without observing the six feet of social distancing recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read Full Story

Scientists at MIT are developing a mask that would kill COVID-19 through heat.

A short guide to the world of respirator masks. By now, you probably know more about N95 respirators than you thought possible. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, these masks have become lifesaving tools to medical personnel and other frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. But lately, you may have spotted ads for N99 or R95 masks. Read Full Story

Developed by Harvard professor David Edwards—who previously created inhalable chocolate and cocktails—the spray promises to stop the spread of aerosols by as much as 99%. You should practice social distancing and wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But even masks aren’t perfect. A high-end N95 mask can filter an estimated 99.8% of the virus from the air, while many cotton masks filter just 50% or less . Given that researchers now know the virus is airborne , you may wonder: Is there anything else you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19? Read Full Story

Wearing a second face mask over the one you already have could help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 significantly, the CDC announced today. Wearing a second face mask over the one you already have could help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 significantly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. Read Full Story

Fashion in the age of COVID-19: sweats, slippers, and a Chanel logo face mask. These days, when my family ventures into town to pick up groceries, we see people wearing a rainbow of creative face masks. Have you noticed it, too? Read Full Story

Valves will keep you more comfortable, but endanger those around you. In some states and major cities, it’s now mandatory to wear a mask in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That mask could be anything from a handkerchief to a designer cotton mask to a full-blown N95 respirator , so long as you have something between your mouth and nose and the world around you. Read Full Story

Masks are probably here to stay. But they’ll need to evolve. As the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, we’re beginning to realize that herd immunity might not work . Early studies show that people infected with the disease can stop producing antibodies within just two months of recovering—after which you can be infected again. If that’s the case, we need to rethink everything from our building air to the way we travel . Read Full Story

With just a few rubber bands, you give a surgical mask a much tighter—and safer—fit. Until recently, Sabrina Paseman worked at Apple as a mechanical engineer for products such as the MacBook Pro. Now, she and an ex-Apple marketer are trying to tackle a completely different problem: the global shortage of N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Full Story