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Person in a black, beaked robe (left) and man in a black tunic (right), flanking a red coat of arms
Masking Up, 1619 to Present
Putting on a mask to protect oneself and others against disease is nothing new, nor is resistance to mask-wearing, but mask designs have changed considerably from their first iterations.
Masking Up, 1619 to Present
Masking Up, 1619 to Present

Putting on a mask to protect oneself and others against disease is nothing new, nor is resistance to mask-wearing, but mask designs have changed considerably from their first iterations.

Putting on a mask to protect oneself and others against disease is nothing new, nor is resistance to mask-wearing, but mask designs have changed considerably from their first iterations.

masks

masked teacher sitting on floor showing masked students something on a tablet
Does Science Support Lifting School Mask Mandates?
Rachael Moeller Gorman | Feb 28, 2022 | 10+ min read
The CDC has given the OK to lift indoor mask mandates in much of the US, and a growing number of states no longer require face coverings in schools. But most experts agree that masks slow school spread of SARS-CoV-2, and whether now is the right time to allow teachers and students to unmask is a matter of debate.
Woman waiting in line at the airport, carrying a bag and standing next to two other suitcases. She is wearing a N95 face mask.
SARS-CoV-2 in the Air: What’s Known and What Isn’t
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Feb 18, 2022 | 9 min read
Evidence suggests that COVID-19 is primarily an airborne disease. Yet the details of how transmission occurs are still debated and frequently misunderstood.
masked boy sitting in classroom raising his hand
Shrinking Quarantine
Rachael Moeller Gorman | Oct 15, 2021 | 9 min read
The CDC now suggests that only children who were within 3 feet, not 6 feet, of an infected student should quarantine, provided they were masked in a classroom. Does the science support this change?
Illustration of a female scientist on a laptop sitting on top a large pill capsule, with science-related imagery around her
Opinion: Scientists Must Combat Scientific Dogmatism
Ahmed Alkhateeb | Sep 23, 2021 | 5 min read
Correcting misinformation and providing reliable data are collective responsibilities of the research community.
photograph of blue surgical masks overlaying one another
The Data Behind the CDC’s New Masking Recommendations
Annie Melchor | Aug 2, 2021 | 2 min read
As a result of massive summer gatherings in and around Cape Cod, hundreds of vaccinated people tested positive for COVID-19 with viral titers similar to unvaccinated patients.
photograph of a woman wearing a face mask embedded with SARS-CoV-2 sensors
Researchers Create Pathogen-Sensing Face Mask
Annie Melchor | Jul 5, 2021 | 5 min read
The masks contain freeze-dried, cell-free biosensors, enabling them to detect pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.
Science and Policy Collide During the Pandemic
Diana Kwon | Sep 1, 2020 | 8 min read
COVID-19 has laid bare some of the pitfalls of the relationship between scientific experts and policymakers—but some researchers say there are ways to make it better.
laser imaging, methods, Duke Health, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, coronavirus, masks, safety, health, aerosols, droplets, saliva
Simple Tool Evaluates Mask Performance at Blocking Droplets
Amanda Heidt | Aug 12, 2020 | 4 min read
A proof-of-concept study finds some commonly used facial coverings may perform worse than no mask at all.
three masked students studying
Study: Test College Students for Coronavirus Every Two Days
Shawna Williams | Aug 4, 2020 | 3 min read
A model scenario concludes that frequent testing with fast turnaround is key to avoiding campus outbreaks of COVID-19, even if the tests are imperfect.
Masks Lower Wearers’ Exposure to Viruses, Experts Propose
Ashley Yeager | Jul 28, 2020 | 2 min read
Face coverings prevent wearers from spreading pathogens, and might also limit the number of viral particles that enter the body, staving off severe infection, including COVID-19, research indicates.
How Face Masks Can Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Diana Kwon | Jul 8, 2020 | 4 min read
As communities and businesses reopen amidst the pandemic, masks—in addition to other social distancing measures—are crucial for preventing new outbreaks.
Infographic: What We Know About How Masks Can Slow Disease Spread
Diana Kwon | Jul 8, 2020 | 1 min read
Not all masks are created equal, and how they are worn makes a difference too.
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