Researchers recycle discarded face masks to make stronger road material
In addition to a global health crisis, the pandemic has also exacerbated our toxic relationship with plastic, with millions of single-use face masks and gloves ending up in the environment daily. There are some ways, however, we can mitigate this new form of pollution. Recently, we shared a Read More...
Korean student creates colorful stools out of used face masks
One of the most unfortunate side-effects of the coronavirus pandemic is the massive amount of waste coming from disposable face masks. According to one estimate, the world goes through 129 billion single-use face masks each month during the pandemic. In an attempt to turn this ecological disaster Read More...
Cotton candy machines could help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Since the start of the pandemic, N95 respirators have been touted as the gold-standard for face masks. One of the main strengths of these masks is that they feature an electrocharged filter that attracts and holds viruses, preventing them from passing through. But while they provide the best Read More...
3 ways to improve communication while wearing a face mask
While face masks are vital for minimizing your risk of Covid-19, they can be a real hindrance to everyday communication. You might notice that your voice gets muffled when you try to greet the neighbor, or that you can’t understand the cashier clerk when they speak to you. Since face masks are Read More...
OPTIMIST VIEW: Masks meet Metals, a Natural Solution for a New Age
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night? - John Milton By JURRIAAN KAMP Ancient knowledge can make a major contribution to the fight against the coronavirus. Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found that the virus Read More...
These effective face masks are made with abaca leaf fibers
Rather than make masks from plastic-derived materials, a company in the Philippines has turned to abaca leaf fibers. As reported by Bloomberg, abaca is as strong as polyester, but unlike polyester, it can decompose in just two months. The fiber is commonly used in the Philippines to make things Read More...
Discarded face masks could be turned into biofuel to produce energy
While the pandemic has benefitted the environment in some ways, it has also brought about an unprecedented problem: the overwhelming number of single-use, non-recyclable personal protective equipment (PPE) leaking into the environment. Concerned about how these single-use masks and gloves can be Read More...
Study: Face masks and social distancing actually work to contain COVID-19
It can feel like a bit of nuisance to follow all the coronavirus guidelines such as wearing face masks in public or keeping six feet apart from others, but a new study published Monday in The Lancet provides the strongest evidence yet that these practices do indeed lower the risk of spreading the Read More...
Scuba divers are using ocean plastic to make face masks
While some people are heading outside in snorkeling masks as makeshift protection, a group of scuba divers is using their social distancing time to help people and the oceans. They're making face masks from plastic water bottles recovered from the oceans, as CNN reported. The masks are made by Read More...
This DIY kit decontaminates face masks and make them safe to reuse
Many types of face masks used in hospitals by nurses and doctors, like the N95, aren’t designed to be reusable. But due to a shortage of such protective gear, frontline workers have no other choice than to use the masks over and over again, putting them at higher risk of contracting the virus. Read More...