If you’re still not on board with the CDC’s guidelines of wearing a face covering, perhaps Bill Nye (the Science Guy) can change your mind.

On TikTok, Nye posted two simple and easy-to-understand videos that clearly demonstrate the difference between wearing a face mask and not wearing a face mask. 

Some people aren’t numbers people. Some people don’t like looking at charts and hearing about particles and statistics. That’s fine. Do you like candles?

We all understand that an easy way to put out a candle is to blow it out. We do this at birthday parties. We do this after enjoying scented candles around the bathtub. 

When you blow out a candle, you are blowing air from your lungs onto the flame to extinguish it. Obviously. Can you blow out a candle while wearing a face covering? Let’s find out.

Watch the video below in which Bill Nye demonstrates what happens when you try to blow out a candle while wearing a face mask.

@billnye##WearAMask ##LearnOnTikTok ##TikTokPartner♬ original sound – billnye

Did you notice that the face mask Nye used in the video was a homemade face mask? While a homemade face mask may not be as effective as an N95 mask, it certainly looks pretty effective at blocking air flow in this video!

Want to find out what happens when you try to blow out a candle while wearing an N95 mask? Nye demonstrates in the video below.

@billnye##WearAMask ##LearnOnTikTok ##TikTokPartner♬ original sound – billnye

As Nye so clearly put it, “Everybody, this is a matter literally of life and death. And when I use the word literally, I mean literally a matter of life and death.” So, wear a face mask.

Does it surprise how effective a homemade face mask is at blocking air flow? Do you think these videos will encourage more people to wear face masks in public?