Over his long and storied career, Bill Nye has made a name for himself explaining science to the masses. Now, the famous Science Guy has taken to TikTok to demonstrate how face masks work, and why they’re so important in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
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“Why do people in the scientific community want you to wear a face mask?” Nye asks in an introductory video. To answer the question, he uses a candle and a variety of face coverings, from scarves to N95 masks.
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Things get a bit more heated in a second TikTok clip. “So the reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect you, sure,” says Nye. “But the main reason we want you to wear a mask… is to protect me! From you! And the particles from your respiratory system from getting into my respiratory system!”
Nye has spent most of his life advocating for science awareness throughout media. Children of the ’90s best remember him for his educational TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy. Airing from 1993 to 1998, the show mixed eye-catching visuals and Nye’s wacky sense of humor to educate children about science. It would go on to win 19 Emmy awards and influence a generation’s understanding of the natural world.
Nye hasn’t stopped there, however. Since the end of Bill Nye the Science Guy, he’s kept busy both as an advocate for scientific education and as a television personality.
From 2001 to 2006 Nye taught as a professor at Cornell University, where he previously graduated from. He also served as vice president of the Planetary Society, which pushes for further advances in space exploration.
He’s also maintained a presence in the media, making memorable appearances on BattleBots, The Big Bang Theory and Dancing with the Stars. He even has his own show on Netflix, Bill Nye Saves the World, which debuted in 2017.
It looks like Nye is ready to make the jump from TV to social media with his latest TikTok videos. Here’s hoping for more zany and educational clips to come from this beloved Science Guy.