Have you ever wondered how gas masks work? If this is the case, be sure to check out this video from TED-Ed taking a look at the science behind them and how they actually protect you. After all, with wildfires becoming more frequent and climate change exacerbating air pollution, understanding how these devices work could eventually become crucial. If you’ve worn a regular face mask in a very polluted city during an episode of smog, you’ll know what I’m talking about. When you remove it at the end of the day, you’ll see the coloration that pollution left on it on its surface.