 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global shift in the way people live, work and interact. To help mitigate the spread of the virus, face masks and respirators have become essential pieces of personal protective equipment. Research into new materials and designs for these items is ongoing, with the goal of creating more effective and comfortable products. Additionally, novel technologies such as low-temperature plasma and artificial intelligence models are being explored to further improve the effectiveness of face masks and respirators. This article was authored by Chris O'Dowd, Kirthi M. Nair, Parnia Forzanda, and others.