Leave it to Bill Nye the Science Guy to share the face-mask PSA the world needs right now. In a series of TikTok videos shared on Wednesday, the science whiz broke down why it's so important to wear a face mask in public amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Sporting one of his signature bow ties and holding a blue surgical mask, Nye explained, "Face masks like this one prevent particles from my respiratory system from getting into the air and then into your respiratory system."
He went on to use a lit candle to illustrate the effectiveness of different types of face coverings. Holding up a neck scarf, he said, "It can block the movement of air, but only to a certain extent," before blowing through the thick material and causing the flame to immediately extinguish. Next up, he demonstrated how both a homemade cloth mask and an N95 respirator successfully hinder the movement of air, seeing as the candle stayed lit as he blew through both of them.
In his second video, Nye reiterated, "The reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect you, sure. But the main reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect me from you and the particles in your respiratory system from getting into my respiratory system. Everybody, this is a matter literally of life and death. And when I use the word literally, I mean literally a matter of life and death." Aaand *drops mic*. If you're looking to stock up on face masks, browse these cloth options that have filter pockets or these breathable designs that are perfect for summer.