Dirty N95 Mask under the Microscope

Microscopic video footage of a clean and a dirty N95 mask under the microscope.
Cultures were grown on tryptic soy blood agar at 36 degrees Celsius for 48 hours.
Camera - Nikon D3300
Microscopes -
Leica ATC 2000
Wolfe Stereomicroscope (10x Magnification)
Microscope magnification of each shot is shown in the bottom right hand corner.
Music by Sci-inspi
Apple music: / dirty-n95-mask-single
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/5WJ5py...
Donate to support my channel: www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s...
References
1. Larsen, Gregory S., Cheng, Yongqiang, Daemen, Luke L., Lamichhane, Tej N., Hensley, Dale K., Hong, Kunlun, Meyer, Harry M., Monaco, Steven J., Levine, Alan M., Lee, Richard J., Betters, Emma, Sitzlar, Kim, Heineman, Jesse, West, Justin, Lloyd, Peter, Kunc, Vlastimil, Love, Lonnie, Theodore, Merlin, and Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans. Polymer, Additives, and Processing Effects on N95 Filter Performance. United States: N. p., 2021. Web. doi:10.1021/acsapm.0c01294.
2. Adanur S, Jayswal A. Filtration mechanisms and manufacturing methods of face masks: An overview. Journal of Industrial Textiles. December 2020. doi:10.1177/1528083720980169
3. Taslim Ur Rashid, Sadia Sharmeen, and Shanta Biswas. Effectiveness of N95 Masks against SARS-CoV-2: Performance Efficiency, Concerns, and Future Directions. ACS Chemical Health & Safety 2022 29 (2), 135-164
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chas.1c00016
4. William G. Lindsley, Francoise M. Blachere, Brandon F. Law, Donald H. Beezhold & John D. Noti (2021) Efficacy of face masks, neck gaiters and face shields for reducing the expulsion of simulated cough-generated aerosols, Aerosol Science and Technology, 55:4, 449-457, DOI: 10.1080/02786826.2020.1862409
5.Leggett, Helen C et al. “Mechanisms of pathogenesis, infective dose and virulence in human parasites.” PLoS pathogens vol. 8,2 (2012): e1002512. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1002512
6.Brooks JT, Butler JC. Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA. 2021;325(10):998-999. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.1505
7.Yim, Wonjun et al. “KN95 and N95 Respirators Retain Filtration Efficiency despite a Loss of Dipole Charge during Decontamination.” ACS applied materials & interfaces vol. 12,49 (2020): 54473-54480. doi:10.1021/acsami.0c17333

[@minhaj14d]

The fact that the music is also created by you is really awesome.

[@Nohbdy_Ahtall]

Yet hosted on two unethically proprietary platforms. I was hoping it'd be CC0 or similar. It's a delicious song, but has lost a broader, deeper functionality.

[@los3r426]

@@Nohbdy_Ahtall yeah I tasted it its more savory than sweet but in a sour kinda way yaknow?

[@ilyes8000]

😂 wtf are yall talking about tasting a song

[@_adheeb.]

@@los3r426 how to taste like you did ?

[@youtubeisevil]

@@ilyes8000 It's yummie what is there to not understand

[@Fogyt121]

Interesting. Can you also check what P3 particulate filters look like, after being used in a dusty environment, say, a welding shop. I want to see what size and shape the metallic and nonmetallic particles have.

[@Yeah_Nahhh]

That would be interesting

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

3:53 a ✓¡®u$ is thousand times smaller than the smallest speck we can see here. It won't filter bacteria, only dust. Imagine believing it will filter out ✓¡®u$€$. This guy ¡$ either a l¡@® or fv©|

[@monsoon9847]

Nerd

[@RussianSmacker69]

@@monsoon9847 It's almost as if this is a science channel

[@ky8920]

i would rather see oil particles/non oil particles comparison

[@Davis38]

It's so strange to think that whatever the mask has caught, we usually breath in When I went to school, after 6 hours of continuously wearing the mask, a dark layer would develop near the nose, it was disgusting Nevertheless, awesome video!

[@pojiloybivis9421]

And our uppers respiratory tracts usually filtered it by using cilia and mucus

[@Xorberax]

@Patrick G try not to cut yourself on all those edges

[@adarshvenkateswaran795]

@@comprends2138 I have a feeling its dead skin from your nose? Not sure at all though.

[@Official_Rz]

@Patrick G Let me guess, a mask restricts your freedom of movement?

[@EternalShadow1667]

Probably just sweat and dirt. There’s naturally going to be some edgy anti-maskers, so it’s worth pointing out that studies have shown that they work, including for individuals (even when crowds are maskless) and in real-world conditions as opposed to laboratory ones. Bit pointless me saying it though, those people don’t really care about “logic” and “science”. They’re too busy breathing in the QAnon cult. I say we put them in some island and dunk diseases there, see what they think then.

[@anygirl3598]

I remember when covid hit and there was an N95 shortage on the covid unit, we had to don and doff the same mask over and over again. They told us we were allowed one mask per day, and we could reuse that one mask up to 4-5 days in a row as long as we put a regular mask on top of it. Looking at what’s grown on those Petri dishes, it really puts things into perspective.

[@freedomisntfree_44]

And the number 1 thing an n95 mask says is DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST COVID 19 🤣 right on the package.

[@bubba418]

@@freedomisntfree_44 k

[@nogrammer]

@@freedomisntfree_44 literally because that's not the purpose of the masks. surgeons do NOT wear masks to protect themselves while doing surgery on someone. surgeons have been wearing masks for nearly a century now to protect the patients who's innards are exposed and vulnerable to otherwise benign bacteria that a surgeons breaths out, sneezed, coughs, etc. and they wear them for up to 16 hours or more.

[@JasonJia11]

@@freedomisntfree_44 that's for liability purposes... The most important thing with a respirator or mask is good fit/seal on your face. And even then there's no 100% guarantee you won't catch it. The whole point is to reduce your chances

[@freedomisntfree_44]

@@JasonJia11 only thing that’ll reduce is dust inhalation 🤣

[@shawnz12ss]

This man music is underrated

[@lydiad3575]

I want to play the video a second time just for the music

[@rmenard1986]

Tasteless animals

[@greenanimations923]

Is his music free to use?

[@GearsDatPowerDaTubes]

Would love to see the condition of the mask in various stages, say after 1 "use" versus 5 "uses", maybe 40 hours would be better? Absolutely loved the electrostatic demo, super cool! One minor caveat is that these masks actually filter the worst at 0.3 micrometers. Anything smaller easily collides with the fibers due to Brownian Motion, anything larger is collected through impaction or electrostatic attraction. That's why these masks are tested at 0.3 micrometers... if it gets a 95% at that size, it probably gets much more at any other size.

[@sci-inspi]

Some sizes are filtered out better than others. There are a lot of nuances so I try to be very general given the limitations of presenting information through text on a screen. That's why I also included references.

[@GearsDatPowerDaTubes]

@@sci-inspi Thank you for your response! I do agree that there is a lot of nuance when I first looked into the field of aerosol science.

[@datHDgameplay]

an n95 is only an 8 hour mask. you shouldn't be wearing it for 40.

[@GearsDatPowerDaTubes]

@@datHDgameplay Where did you get the 8 hour figure from? Aaron Collin conducted filtration tests on 40 hour KF-94 masks and they only lost a few percentage points of filtration.

[@datHDgameplay]

@@GearsDatPowerDaTubes I got it from the enclosed instructions. you see yellow it's an 8 hour mask. you see pink, it's a 40 hour mask. I wore p100 masks for the first few covid months. Those were 40 hour masks and have a pink label.

[@Frank-im2ku]

I shazammed the song for curiosity and the name is dirty n95 mash by sci inspi my respect for you is even more than before

[@wanote26]

Glad to see you back! Really interesting stuff, and I have to say the music is getting better and better!

[@warsameadam5572]

👏🏿

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

3:53 a ✓¡®u$ is thousand times smaller than the smallest speck we can see here. It won't filter bacteria, only dust. Imagine believing it will filter out ✓¡®u$€$. This guy ¡$ either a l¡@® or fv©|

[@mariantreber8055]

It's annoying.

[@hellothere-dw3sf]

@@mariantreber8055 Alright Marian

[@sms-pk8pi]

i wonder why youtube and big pharma recommended this video to me

[@erikdeeNOSPELLSNO]

And remember, at this level of magnification, viruses would STILL be invisible!

[@triheybi3329]

Jetzt hetzen Sie doch nicht mit Fakten! 😁

[@freakinccdevilleiv380]

Like mosquitos through cattle fencing.

[@SmellyNutz]

@@freakinccdevilleiv380 But the mosquito is attracted to the net and sticks to it. The scientists aren't dumb

[@freya4381]

Miss your videos! It's always fascinating to see things in such a micro level.

[@mikelisteral7863]

thats not a micro level. the covid is 1000X smaller

[@brycethoreson9216]

People be wearing the same mask for months. As long as they get the illusion of safety

[@khworker1322]

How do you know that? Did you take a poll? Masks do help. You are probably too dumb to understand how the science “be”. You are one sorry MF

[@psilocylence]

My mom 🤦🏽‍♀️ even after I repeatedly reminded her that these masks are DISPOSABLE

[@julz3tt3]

Exactly 💯

[@mobolo7849]

i love your channel, such good quality content! you put so much work in it

[@NicholasPellegrino]

Thanks for the great video, as usual. I didn't know how these masks worked until now!

[@theluigiguy]

Woooo another video (with another banger music track, of course)! It was actually really interesting to see the fiber structure that comprises the mask itself

[@hiroyopoetker]

This was super cool! I love your guitar sounds, so lovely!

[@trmals2972]

Glad to have your content back!

[@nikriley610]

Whew! The taping on the guitar! 😮‍💨❤️ Such impressive videos!

[@HEA_01]

Do you understand the talent you possess with that beautiful music??

[@danielbuchanan1560]

I LOVE this channel and the chill music

[@jinhom8708]

just found out abt this channel like 12 hours ago and he comes back from the dead

[@F-Khan491]

this channel is amazing, so much to learn. definitely subscribing and sharing it !

[@hectorgeronimo97]

Wow. So good to see your video after a long time.

[@ajs3637]

Your music is amazing and so calming

[@havingicecream]

The interesting microscope footage and the music are so relaxing!

[@zaine_zen]

Thank you for the video bro! Keep up the great work please!

[@jeenxd1499]

Great content! All your vids are interesting and I like the music you make too ❤️

[@detomata]

great music as always

[@cyanuranus6456]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A New Video of Yours. I've Been Dying for You to Make More

[@jwest6058]

The music is amazing!

[@sammyhayden]

Great to see you back

[@Aaaajjjjjaaaa]

What a great video!!! Thank u soo much! ❤️

[@shernweilee5576]

Thanks for this video, I find it helpful.

[@teabag9050]

What's even more amazing is the fact that all this gunk is filtered through our nose and the rest of our respiratory system while we keep breathing every second of every day!

[@normanorman]

I didn’t think about that… life is magic

[@CyanideOwl]

And this is why the mask is not needed. The nose filters everything just right in fresh air and if you put a mask on you just suffocate for no reason and breathe the stuff that should be out.

[@federicotorresani9117]

@@CyanideOwl the nose absolutely does not filter everything, it does a good enough job but things can still pass through, and a mask doesn’t block out oxygen in any way, O2 molecules are much smaller than viruses and other particles, and they can easily pass through the mask’s fibers, same goes for CO2. Our nose filters particles smaller than 5 microns and larger than 0,5 microns

[@phaiz55]

@@CyanideOwl Well at least it took a while to find the first anti-mask comment. The ignorance never ceases to amaze me.

[@U20E0]

@@federicotorresani9117 i am pretty sure you made some mistake with the filtering capability. 0.5 micrometers is the same as that mask.

[@sweetkitty2798]

Once every few months should be a "catch up day" where students who miss class because of illness can get the lessons missed. They can miss school without worrying that they'll fall behind because the system is setup without measures in place to help kids who miss a few days of classes.

[@ambidex]

Great video! So informative. I've tried to explain the aspect of the electrostatic charge many times to people skeptical of these higher quality masks. That seems to be a feature that in particular can help with the extremely small coronavirus particles which can get through most filtering, apparently. Also, you wrote this music? I love it! Especially where you have a bass walk down over the guitar plucking starting at around 4:52 Fantastic, beautiful, and well done.

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

3:53 a ✓¡®u$ is thousand times smaller than the smallest speck we can see here. It won't filter bacteria, only dust. Imagine believing it will filter out ✓¡®u$€$. This guy ¡$ either a l¡@® or fv©|

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

Ambidex, i don't know if fear made ¥0u this $+up¡D but they still don't work even with your magical electrostatic charge. Maybe you just don't know what it really is and how it works but still @®€ an @®®0g@πt p€d@πt¡© p¡€©€ 0f $#¡+ trying to show off knowledge you don't have. Also it's really difficult to catch π0π €×¡$t@πt ✓¡®u$€$ when they even can't get the real ones. Maybe the thousand articles proving it are wrong but the single one carefully cherry picked is right. Uh the electrostatic power pulling a cotton strand 🤡🤦😂💩

[@Korsan977]

I see come the conspiranoics...

[@arunthebuffoon4554]

I really enjoy the way the tapping fades in at around 2:00

[@arunthebuffoon4554]

Very beautiful and mesmerizing

[@redanejjar8834]

the music is just so good

[@brkstf30]

4:29 the little single lonely bacteria on the right made me laugh for some reason.

[@roberto873]

This is the way to go!! I really appreciate that you put references the way you put them, this should be the standard in any science video (affirmation-->source). If you can see some bacteria with this kind of microscope, why didn't you see them in the mask? There is something as the experiment with the petri dishes suggest, maybe only endospores? THX :)

[@Militant_Vegan]

Is it possible for a medical grade mask to be compostable? I understand that single use is necessary in the medical field, but I’m just wondering if it’s even possible to phase out plastic waste there. There’s so much. Masks, isolation gowns, gloves, caps, needles.. sooo much. Is there a sustainable material that can be waterproof?

[@saniainez]

For now, I don't think we have the technology. A high enough density is needed in gowns, gloves, and caps so nothing can seep through nor go through, and most of available natural materials can't really provide that. The mask in the video as you know is made of a mix of polyester fibers, which does a great job of trapping bacterias and viruses (which is also the reason pet owners rarely use plastic feeding bowls), and a cloth one doesn't have the same efficiency.

[@melovetorun]

The medical industry pollutes so much to keep humans healthy and alive.

[@bennemann]

​@@melovetorun True, but at least it's for a good reason. I don't think we should tackle plastic pollution from the healthcare angle when there are sooooo many more angles that waste more and use plastic in completely avoidable ways. My pet peeve is plastic trays in cookie packaging.

[@midsein]

So glad you're back here! Why haven't you been posting all this time? Lack of time, motivation or health issues? Anyway, love your content.

[@frankcross2297]

Love these videos. Keep them coming. Have you done fridge filtered water? I measure it and then my RO system. Fridge water measures 50% better than tap water in my area, but RO measures 99.3% better than tap water.

[@martythestines]

I come here for the music. The videos are just bonuses. But I now just followed on Spotify to her this song whenever I want. I'd like to buy a bunch of your stuff. This song is great for me to jam to. But I need much more!

[@sprocket0077]

Babe wake up, new Sci-Inspi!

[@nicolekrantz2172]

Very informative!

[@niconexus5914]

The fact I found your channel 3 days ago and you upload this is actually insane. Great video!

[@meodrac]

banging music as per usual

[@ZestyTime233]

1:55 🙃! Thanks again for another endlessly fascinating video, had no idea about the charge's function in trapping these little beasties C:

[@eshrug]

sick videos, and sick music 🔥

[@cuddlecakes7153]

Awesome video! I have always wanted to see an experiment of how much particles get through a mask, though the way I envisioned it was with a fan shooting colored powder and then recording how much of that got through. Though, I don't think that would have worked the way I want it to

[@Koldean]

I come for the beautiful music the science is only a plus

[@DonutTrumpet]

THE LEGEND IS BACK

[@bigboyburgerjoints1058]

Yes! Another upload!

[@nickhinton8888]

Man I’ve missed your music so much

[@malyoshiro]

fantastic knowledge

[@ellueccid8625]

Love your channel especially your music!! Do you structure your vids first and then compose to fit them, or vice versa?

[@sci-inspi]

Thank you! I edit the video first then compose the music.

[@hllvr]

This music would fit in Death note really well

[@azhari7968]

@@sci-inspi the music reminded me of breaking bad intro. is it just a coincidence?

[@aura8808]

@@hllvr omg yes

[@cocozinho2496]

awesome vídeo

[@limegreentechnologies8803]

Hey, new video! I really like your content

[@Cupo666]

this is extremely interesting thank you

[@Cylindropuntia]

I really like the music for this one sir.

[@duckintheheadlights7906]

Who made it

[@Cylindropuntia]

@@duckintheheadlights7906 Sorry for the late reply. I believe the music is original to the same creator of this channel. This is a gentleman of science and art.

[@justahumanbean_]

i was doing my internship at the hospital during Covid & had to wear this mask for hours. it's fascinating to see what get caught underneath the mask in microscopic view, thanks for sharing this!

[@sms-pk8pi]

yea so effective two weeks to flatten the curve fuck off you scamdemic!! the mask was never effective from the start

[@sms-pk8pi]

the covid virus is a pos

[@CyanideOwl]

Fascinating to see how you suffocate yourself and make your lungs slowly develop fungus?

[@justahumanbean_]

@@CyanideOwl nope, it's fascinating by how all of us slowly succumbing into inevitable death.

[@tuckersbaby]

Should’ve asked my MicroBio professor if I could’ve looked at one of my masks from work during lab. They just relaxed the employee mandates at the hospital last month to almost pre-Covid stuff, but a real gem to look at on higher powers would have been an N95 from early into everything when we were rationing surgical and respirator masks. These things are intended for single use and maybe a day’s labor at most and we were having to stretch them out from 3-7 days at a time.

[@dubbyplays]

Your professor was dumb to let you recycle the mask for more than 8 hours.

[@dantorriusrheal7478]

The beat goes hard!

[@_c_y_p_3]

Awesome!

[@Snoupity]

Damn, that's interesting. This was a great idea, bro

[@yobb1n544]

Very cool!

[@DENNlSSINNED]

Welcome back

[@xslowday6850]

best chanel ever

[@oneofkill]

Nice music also.

[@madamk1818]

I absolutely love your videos.

[@sci-inspi]

Thank you. I plan to do it in the future.

[@Biologyin20]

Good job...

[@cordai8813]

it was obviously an avocado ; 2:13 is definitely sponge bob

[@Shoob__]

Can you try various canned foods (canned fruits, tuna, sardine, SPAM, etc)? Wondering if we could see the cooked bacteria corpses or if the harsh canning processes obliterates them

[@DerpyPannycake]

Would have liked to see the mask i used for about 2 months since my boss didnt supply us with any and no way in heck im buying a new one everyday

[@TamilArasan-rg6zl]

Great engineering

[@_Junkers]

This deserves more views

[@triheybi3329]

Nein, tut es nicht. Krieg ist vorbei.

[@Jvek_]

Best music

[@bbqchickenwingsofredemptio449]

I like the music 😋

[@definitelynotsham]

and youre a musician too? youre super cool 😎

[@Jynoz]

Could you try one of those uv water bottle waters under a microscope? I was thinking of getting the Larq water bottle, but dont know if the uv light actually works to kill off bacteria.

[@andymullarx6365]

How long does the electrostatic effect remain as the mask ages and do they last longer in a sealed bag ? Could an old mask's electrostatic properties be rejuvenated by tossing it in a hot clothes dryer ?

[@choqo644]

Very interesting video. Do you use tabs for your music or is it just improv?

[@CambioJoe]

This song has a very STALKER/wolfenstein hybrid feel to it I dig it

[@skrrritt]

Please keep making such videos with your music ❤️❤️ love it

I am interested to see what would shampoo look like under the microscope, considering some shampoos have antimicrobial compounds in them such as zinc pyrithione and piroctone olamine, I'm curious what would happen if you spread them throughout a petri dish and see what would grow.

[@rishivasishtha7423]

How many people thought that they were going to see corona virus🦠😷 in that mask😂😂

[@HDell-qs4br]

Can you look at the UV-C LED filtering of a LARQ water bottle?

[@riebug]

Have you tested the Zero water filter or maybe have plans to?

[@maiamaiapapaya]

I want to know if you can wash the N95s an reuse them? Even if they lose their charge?

[@shizumeru_]

I may not like the results of this experiment but it is still interesting to see. I wonder what the long-term effects of breathing in polypropylene particles are though.

[@banyanyo]

after watching this, I couldn’t help but took a deep breath….

[@117translyrics]

do you use VST plugins for the guitars?

[@LSniumUwU]

What does a mask like mine look after a year of use, the disposable blue ones?

[@DiscoLizzard]

I can't wait until N96 drops!

[@user-rb7hc5kx6v]

he back :D

[@thestrongestcatalive]

Watch for the curiosity, stay for the homemade ambient post-rock.

[@6136086]

I’m going to camping. I need a good filter please advise. Thanks

[@WHY-mi8ng]

Well on last culture plate there are some colonies of fungus and other colonies can be normal flora like staph.epi from skin and from mouth they can be lactobacilli, staphylococci etc

[@brendanfields3691]

hey not sure if this would be possible but you should test some purification products on extremely dirty water I'm talking you can see dead stuff but it's the only water source I think that would be cool great videos just found the channel and binge watched like 5 vids already lol

[@irisxxxxxx]

Really cool to see! One thing I do wonder is if you breath in the fibers the mask is made of? Is it made from plastic? Or are all the fibers so strong that it's impossible to loosen and end up in your longs? Greetings & thanks for the interesting video xx

[@planefan082]

I'd guess the electrostatic charges would handle that.

[@ShiratoriIsOffline]

The respiratory system has excellent filter

[@vicovideocompilationsetc6991]

@@ShiratoriIsOffline Well that filter only work efficiently on non-biological particles. Whereas bacteria and viruses would just gets stuck on those filter and grow there, that's how you get infection and then it's now the immune system to be depended on in those infection matters that came from those mucosal particulates from those filtering.

[@ShiratoriIsOffline]

@@vicovideocompilationsetc6991 that's what op is asking

[@ShiratoriIsOffline]

@@vicovideocompilationsetc6991 rather, what op is concerned of. Since like you said, it's only efficient on nonbiological particles.

[@rachelandres2268]

Genuinely curious: can you test the simple fabric masks or surgical masks out there? Do they have the same results as N95s or was it pointless to try and wear something like a homemade fabric mask?

[@braveulysses2000]

surgical and cloth masks are almost completely ineffective. N95 or better only.

[@triheybi3329]

😆