<p>A Dutch designer has created biodegradable facemasks made from rice paper that will transform into flowers when planted.</p>

<p>Face masks are now part of our daily lives and are likely to remain so for months, if not years. But while they may be essential in stopping the spread of coronavirus pandemic, they are not particularly friendly for the planet or the oceans.</p>

<p>Surgical masks littering the streets of Europe’s capitals has become an image synonymous with the pandemic. As a result, the environment — which had finally made its way onto the agenda of key concerns for people worldwide — has suffered a serious blow. When they aren’t discarded in the streets, face masks are filling up public trash cans and home garbage bags, which isn’t particularly environmentally friendly.</p>

<p>This is an issue that got Marianne de Groot-Pons, a graphic designer with the Pons Ontwerp agency based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, thinking. To cut pollution linked to mask-wearing, the young designer has come up with a 100 per cent&nbsp;biodegradable model.</p>

<p>But she hasn’t stopped there. To brighten up these gloomy times, the designer is offering an artisanal-made face mask which, once worn, can be planted in a garden or a pot and grow into flowers. This is possible thanks to flower seeds embedded in the original accessory.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLjnhhTJnQm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Marie Bee Bloom (@mariebeebloom)</a></p>
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<p>“After weeks of tripping over all the blue disposable masks on the street, I woke up one morning to the idea of a biodegradable face mask with flower seeds in it. Earth happy, bees happy, nature happy, people happy. I sell the mask under the name Marie Bee Bloom. Bloom the world!” explains the creator of these eco-friendly masks on her website.</p>

<p>The mask is made from rice paper and contains flower seeds. Its straps are made from pure sheep’s wool. Even the glue used to attach certain parts is made using potato starch and water. This does, nevertheless, make the mask much more fragile than regular disposable masks, as Marianne de Groot-Pons explains herself, reminding would-be buyers that the accessory should be handled with care.</p>

<p>And, unsurprisingly, they are also more expensive than regular disposable masks. They are priced at €3 (approx. US$3.58) each or, more precisely, from €15 (or approx. $17.88) for five masks. Another important detail is protection. The website states that the Marie Bee Bloom mask potentially provides as much (or as little) protection as a handmade fabric mask, since the mask has not yet been tested to measure its effectiveness against covid-19. That’s certainly something to take into account before placing an order, currently only possible from three countries … for the time being.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from AFP)</em></p>


A Dutch designer has created biodegradable facemasks made from rice paper that will transform into flowers when planted. Face masks are now part of our daily lives and are likely to remain so for months, if not years.

A Dutch designer has created biodegradable facemasks made from rice paper that will transform into flowers when planted. Face masks are now part of our daily lives and are likely to remain so for months, if not years. But while they may be essential in stopping the spread of coronavirus pandemic, they are not particularly friendly for the planet or the oceans. Surgical masks littering the streets of Europe’s capitals has become an image synonymous with the pandemic. As a result, the environment — which had finally made its way onto the agenda of key concerns for people worldwide — has suffered a serious blow. When they aren’t discarded in the streets, face masks are filling up public trash cans and home garbage bags, which isn’t particularly environmentally friendly. This is an issue that got Marianne de Groot-Pons, a graphic designer with the Pons Ontwerp agency based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, thinking. To cut pollution linked to mask-wearing, the young designer has come up with a 100 per cent biodegradable model. But she hasn’t stopped there. To brighten up these gloomy times, the designer is offering an artisanal-made face mask which, once worn, can be planted in a garden or a pot and grow into flowers. This is possible thanks to flower seeds embedded in the original accessory. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marie Bee Bloom (@mariebeebloom) “After weeks of tripping over all the blue disposable masks on the street, I woke up one morning to the idea of a biodegradable face mask with flower seeds in it. Earth happy, bees happy, nature happy, people happy. I sell the mask under the name Marie Bee Bloom. Bloom the world!” explains the creator of these eco-friendly masks on her website. The mask is made from rice paper and contains flower seeds. Its straps are made from pure sheep’s wool. Even the glue used to attach certain parts is made using potato starch and water. This does, nevertheless, make the mask much more fragile than regular disposable masks, as Marianne de Groot-Pons explains herself, reminding would-be buyers that the accessory should be handled with care. And, unsurprisingly, they are also more expensive than regular disposable masks. They are priced at €3 (approx. US$3.58) each or, more precisely, from €15 (or approx. $17.88) for five masks. Another important detail is protection. The website states that the Marie Bee Bloom mask potentially provides as much (or as little) protection as a handmade fabric mask, since the mask has not yet been tested to measure its effectiveness against covid-19. That’s certainly something to take into account before placing an order, currently only possible from three countries … for the time being. (With inputs from AFP)

These biodegradable facemasks bloom into flowers when planted after use

<p>Cotton&nbsp;masks that become slightly moist through human breath are nearly 35 per cent&nbsp;better on average at capturing particles than when they are dry, making them a better choice than synthetic masks to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a new study.</p>

<p>Synthetic masks showed "no performance change" in stopping particles when humid and therefore "performed poorly" relative to&nbsp;cotton, the US&nbsp;National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said of its study.</p>

<p>"This new study shows that&nbsp;cotton&nbsp;fabrics actually perform better in masks than we thought," NIST research scientist Christopher Zangmeister was quoted as saying on the NIST website.</p>

<p>Cotton&nbsp;fabrics absorb small amounts of the water in a person's breath, creating a moist environment inside the mask. As microscopic particles pass through, they absorb some of this moisture and grow larger, making them more likely to get trapped in the mask, NIST explained on its website when announcing the news.</p>

<p>Most synthetic fabrics, however, 'dislike' water and do not absorb moisture, meaning their filtration efficiency, a measure of how well a material captures particles, does not change in humid conditions, NIST said.</p>

<p>The study tested a range of dual-layer fabric swatches under conditions that mimic the humidity of a person's breath, allowing researchers to read measurements that more accurately reflect how fabrics perform when worn by a living, breathing person, NIST said on its website.</p>

<p>They placed the swatches into small boxes where the air was maintained at 99 per cent&nbsp;humidity so that the fabrics had a chance to become as moist as roughly a person's exhaled breath. For comparison, the second set of swatches was also prepared at only 55 per cent&nbsp;humidity.</p>

<p>All of the swatches were then placed in front of a pipe that emitted air at the same velocity as exhaled breath.</p>

<p>Researchers then measured the number of particles in the air before and after they passed through each fabric.</p>

<p>The new measurements show that under humid conditions, the filtration efficiency in nine types of&nbsp;cotton&nbsp;flannel increased from 12% to 45%, with an average increase of 33%, NIST said.</p>

<p>Among the six types of synthetic fabric testes were nylon, polyester and rayon. All of the six performed poorly compared to&nbsp;cotton&nbsp;flannel, NIST said.</p>

<p>Researchers pointed out that medical-grade masks and N95 respirator masks "provided the same filtration efficiency under both high and low humidity conditions".</p>

<p>The study was conducted by NIST and The Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute. It was published in ACS Applied Nano Materials.</p>


Cotton masks that become slightly moist through human breath are nearly 35 per cent better on average at capturing particles than when they are dry, making them a better choice than synthetic masks to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a new study.

Cotton masks that become slightly moist through human breath are nearly 35 per cent better on average at capturing particles than when they are dry, making them a better choice than synthetic masks to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a new study. Synthetic masks showed "no performance change" in stopping particles when humid and therefore "performed poorly" relative to cotton, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said of its study. "This new study shows that cotton fabrics actually perform better in masks than we thought," NIST research scientist Christopher Zangmeister was quoted as saying on the NIST website. Cotton fabrics absorb small amounts of the water in a person's breath, creating a moist environment inside the mask. As microscopic particles pass through, they absorb some of this moisture and grow larger, making them more likely to get trapped in the mask, NIST explained on its website when announcing the news. Most synthetic fabrics, however, 'dislike' water and do not absorb moisture, meaning their filtration efficiency, a measure of how well a material captures particles, does not change in humid conditions, NIST said. The study tested a range of dual-layer fabric swatches under conditions that mimic the humidity of a person's breath, allowing researchers to read measurements that more accurately reflect how fabrics perform when worn by a living, breathing person, NIST said on its website. They placed the swatches into small boxes where the air was maintained at 99 per cent humidity so that the fabrics had a chance to become as moist as roughly a person's exhaled breath. For comparison, the second set of swatches was also prepared at only 55 per cent humidity. All of the swatches were then placed in front of a pipe that emitted air at the same velocity as exhaled breath. Researchers then measured the number of particles in the air before and after they passed through each fabric. The new measurements show that under humid conditions, the filtration efficiency in nine types of cotton flannel increased from 12% to 45%, with an average increase of 33%, NIST said. Among the six types of synthetic fabric testes were nylon, polyester and rayon. All of the six performed poorly compared to cotton flannel, NIST said. Researchers pointed out that medical-grade masks and N95 respirator masks "provided the same filtration efficiency under both high and low humidity conditions". The study was conducted by NIST and The Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute. It was published in ACS Applied Nano Materials.

Scientists discover secret weapon that makes cotton most suitable for reusable face masks

The facemasks has got a festive twist this Christmas. The accessories which is the most used one is now being used as Christmas gifts. Different range of fashionable face masks available as a gifts.

The facemasks has got a festive twist this Christmas

Five thousand years of art and design history will be joined by some more modern items when London's Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum reopens on Thursday (August 6) with hand sanitiser dispensers and protective screens.

Fine art and facemasks: London's Victoria and Albert Museum reopens

<p>The Central government has issued guidelines in a manual on how to make a face masks at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>The proposed guide is meant to provide a simple outline of best practices to make, use and reuse masks to enable NGOs and individuals to self-create such masks and accelerate widespread adoption of masks across India.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-face-mask-more-than-protective-gear-287694">The face mask: More than protective gear!</a></strong></p>

<p>The key criteria for proposed designs are Ease of Access to Materials, Easy of Making at Home, Ease of Use and Reuse. Wearing of masks is especially recommended for people living in densely populated areas across India.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-electronic-vehicle-manufacturer-byd-becomes-worlds-biggest-face-mask-maker-287523">Chinese electronic vehicle manufacturer BYD becomes world's biggest face mask maker</a></strong></p>

<p>Step one is to cut cloth fabric for the mask at the following sizes as required: adult: 9 inch x 7 inch Child: 7 inch x 5 inch.</p>

<p>Step two is cutting four&nbsp;strips for tying and piping from cloth. Out of this&nbsp;two pieces should be 1.5 inch x 5&nbsp;inch&nbsp;and the other two pieces should be 1.5 inch x 40&nbsp;inch.</p>

<p>Step three is to take the cut fabric, attach the 1.5 inch x 5 inch&nbsp;strip to be used as piping to the fabric on one end.</p>

<p>Step four is to create three downward facing pleats of approximately 1.5 inch&nbsp;each folding cloth.</p>

<p>Step five is to turn the pleated cloth to the other side and repeat steps for pleating on this side.&nbsp;Once the pleats have been made, the height of the pleated cloth will be reduced from 9 inch&nbsp;to 5 inch.</p>

<p>Step six is secure the pleats with piping on both sides.&nbsp;Take extra care to keep all pleats facing</p>

<p>Step seven is to attach&nbsp;the long 40” strips used for tying the mask to the top and bottom of mask as shown.</p>

<p>Step eight is to once again&nbsp;fold both these strips three times and stitch and the mask is ready.</p>


The Central government has issued guidelines in a manual on how to make a face masks at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The proposed guide is meant to provide a simple outline of best practices to make, use and reuse masks to enable NGOs and individuals to self-create such masks and accelerate widespread adoption of masks across India.

The Central government has issued guidelines in a manual on how to make a face masks at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The proposed guide is meant to provide a simple outline of best practices to make, use and reuse masks to enable NGOs and individuals to self-create such masks and accelerate widespread adoption of masks across India. Also read: The face mask: More than protective gear! The key criteria for proposed designs are Ease of Access to Materials, Easy of Making at Home, Ease of Use and Reuse. Wearing of masks is especially recommended for people living in densely populated areas across India. Also read: Chinese electronic vehicle manufacturer BYD becomes world's biggest face mask maker Step one is to cut cloth fabric for the mask at the following sizes as required: adult: 9 inch x 7 inch Child: 7 inch x 5 inch. Step two is cutting four strips for tying and piping from cloth. Out of this two pieces should be 1.5 inch x 5 inch and the other two pieces should be 1.5 inch x 40 inch. Step three is to take the cut fabric, attach the 1.5 inch x 5 inch strip to be used as piping to the fabric on one end. Step four is to create three downward facing pleats of approximately 1.5 inch each folding cloth. Step five is to turn the pleated cloth to the other side and repeat steps for pleating on this side. Once the pleats have been made, the height of the pleated cloth will be reduced from 9 inch to 5 inch. Step six is secure the pleats with piping on both sides. Take extra care to keep all pleats facing Step seven is to attach the long 40” strips used for tying the mask to the top and bottom of mask as shown. Step eight is to once again fold both these strips three times and stitch and the mask is ready.

COVID-19: Central government issues guide to make face masks at home

<p>Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Sunday that the social media company has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 masks to provide health workers with more protective gear.\</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-how-whatsapp-has-become-problematic-for-facebook-287505">Coronavirus pandemic: How WhatsApp has become problematic for Facebook</a></strong></p>

<p>"To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued," Zuckerberg said in a post, adding that the company is also working on "sourcing a lot more to donate."</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-offers-100-million-to-virus-hit-small-businesses-in-30-countries-287069">Facebook offers $100 million to virus-hit small businesses in 30 countries</a></strong></p>

<p>The United States has seen a surge in demand for respirator masks caused by the coronavirus outbreak as the US&nbsp;Department of Health and Human Services, over the next 18 months, aims to buy 500 million masks for the Strategic National Stockpile, the nation's supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Sunday that the social media company has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 masks to provide health workers with more protective gear.

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Sunday that the social media company has donated its emergency reserve of 720,000 masks to provide health workers with more protective gear.\ Also read | Coronavirus pandemic: How WhatsApp has become problematic for Facebook "To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued," Zuckerberg said in a post, adding that the company is also working on "sourcing a lot more to donate." Also read | Facebook offers $100 million to virus-hit small businesses in 30 countries The United States has seen a surge in demand for respirator masks caused by the coronavirus outbreak as the US Department of Health and Human Services, over the next 18 months, aims to buy 500 million masks for the Strategic National Stockpile, the nation's supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Coronavirus: Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg donates 720,000 masks to health workers

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