this is Sara Little Turnbull, she invented the n95 mask while working in the "gift wrap, ribbons & tape" division of 3M.

The prototype was based on the form for a new molded bra cup and was informed by her experience as a caretaker for three dying family members. #WomenInSTEM

you can hear more about SLT in this great episode of NPR's history podcast @throughlineNPR (which I heard while washing dishes this morning): https://www.npr.org/2020/05/21/859991324/how-one-woman-inspired-the-design-for-the-n95-mask

Inventions are very rarely the product of a singular genius! Thanks to everyone who has shared two great inventors who contributed to the n95 we know today: Lien-teh Wu (who pioneered it) and Peter Tsai (who perfected the virus blocking material and patented it).