masks

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

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

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

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

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

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has left hospitals short of masks. This family is rallying to help.

Northeastern student Hannah Rosenblatt and her family have turned their home into a veritable factory that churns out mask-making kits. Once the masks are assembled,…

by Adam Fischer and Benjamin Bertsch April 17, 2020

The global medical supply chain is not immune to COVID-19

“We’re all so used to going to CVS and whatever we need is there,” says Nada Sanders, Distinguished Professor of supply chain management. The pandemic is reminding us not to take those things for granted.

by Emily Arntsen March 16, 2020