masks

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Testing medical protective gear is the perfect job for robots–but not without the help of humans.

When the production and manufacturing industry for personal protective equipment encountered a bottled neck because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taskin Padir, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, set up a team to help mobilize the process of testing surgical masks and gowns in local hospitals. Now, he wants to build a robotic system that could help manufacturers perform that process faster and more efficiently during this and future pandemics.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa October 5, 2020

President Trump addressing RNC from White House South Lawn

Trump’s pandemic approval ratings rise for the first time, new national study finds

The increase was small, but it was enough to reverse a continuous decline, according to a survey by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers.

by Peter Ramjug September 8, 2020

Demonstrators raise their mobile phone lights during a protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups in New York, the United States. Photo by Stringer/Sputnik via AP

Racial justice protests were not a major cause of COVID-19 infection surges, new national study suggests

States that had some of the largest protests in May and June were also among the least likely to report a surge in cases of COVID-19 in subsequent months, according to a new national study by Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers.

by Peter Ramjug August 11, 2020

Face masks help prevent you from spreading the coronavirus. But can they prevent you from catching it?

The scientific evidence is growing about the importance of masks in fighting COVID-19. But one important question is whether homemade masks can protect people wearing them. The answer depends on the fit of a mask and the materials within it, research by Northeastern engineers suggests.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa July 29, 2020

What goes into a better homemade mask?

When people across the U.S. began volunteering to make masks for medical staff experiencing shortages, Northeastern researchers took to their labs to test how well…

by Benjamin Bertsch and Adam Fischer June 24, 2020

Doctoral students Devyesh Rana and John Biswakarma are part of a team of Northeastern researchers who recently reported new findings on how well several types of common fabrics block coronavirus particles. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

How to make a homemade mask that is as good as an N95

A team of Northeastern researchers used virus-like nanoparticles to test more than 70 combinations of fabrics that can stop the coronavirus from getting through. The best combinations, they say, consist of layers of materials that can trap viral particles and repel water.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 11, 2020

Volunteers work at My Brother’s Table, the largest soup kitchen on Boston’s North Shore, to provide meals for takeout and delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

This soup kitchen needed help. The Marine Science Center faculty delivered.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced My Brother’s Table, the largest soup kitchen on Massachusetts’ North Shore, to change how it serves guests, the community at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center took note, and stepped up.

by Kaitlyn Budion June 1, 2020

Circles painted on the grass in San Francisco's Delores Park encourage visitors to keep their distance and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. AP Photo by Noah Berger

How can we stay safe as coronavirus restrictions are lifted?

Is the mask really necessary? What is the safest way to see my friends and family? Can I get a haircut or go to a restaurant? Do I still have to be careful if I'm young and healthy? Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern's Master of Public Health program, has the answers you need.

by Laura Castañón May 29, 2020

Illustration by Gregory Grinnell/Northeastern University

The person walking past you isn’t wearing a mask. What should you say?

It’s best to avoid hostility and communicate with empathy when it comes to helping people understand why covering their faces can slow the spread of the virus, say Northeastern researchers.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa May 15, 2020

Ben Macalister, a senior machinist in Northeastern's department of mechanical and industrial engineering, uses a high pressure water jet to cut materials in the machining center in the Forsyth Building. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University

The man behind the machine behind the masks

Ben Macalister, a senior machinist in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering, is using Northeastern’s facilities to manufacture parts for machines that will build protective gear for hospital workers.

by Laura Castañón April 21, 2020