Although those of us that are vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in California in most places, the medical community is working on a high-tech upgrade to masks to cope with `diagnostics, sensors and even the ability to kill viruses. Although they have yet to be approved by the Food & Drug Administration or FDA, different models are being developed for the medical community and to be marketed to individuals. Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT, has developed a mask that actually kills the virus. “Filtering has its place, but so does just destroying the virus,†said Professor Strano. It also comes with a thermoelectric cooler that ensures hot air that you are breathing in is comfortable. “You actually breathe medically sterilized air,†said Stano. The masks are reusable and will cost just a few dollars more than typical masks. What great progress we are making on the mask front. I hope to not be wearing one anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that the next pandemic will go more smoothly than this one.