In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss COVID-19 and the history of protective face masks.
Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- The threat of coronavirus has lately made protective face masks a fixture in many global cities. Natalia cited this Vox article about the hoarding of such masks. Neil referred to this Quartz piece about the broader use of face masks in Asian countries.
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
- Natalia recommended Mac Schwerin’s Vox article, “The Pungent Legacy of Axe Body Spray.”
- Neil discussed Davey Alba’s New York Times article, “Facial Recognition Moves Into a New Front: Schools.”
- Niki shared the “Whomst Among Us Let the Dogs Out?” episode from the podcast 99% Invisible.










![A lantern slideshows four overlapping illustrations of the Earth depicting its tilt at different time periods in the past, present and future. Dates represented are 13000 BC, 5544 BC, 1921 AD, 2296AD. Handwritten in blue ink at bottom left corner of plate is the text 'G53 CLW [illegible] Aug '22'.](https://i0.wp.com/publicseminar.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Wragge_Earth.jpg?fit=768%2C749&ssl=1)


