Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Netflix Nearing Major Deal to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery Assets 
Neuralink Expands Brain Implant Trials with 12 Global Patients 
NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Rio Tinto Raises 2025 Copper Output Outlook as Oyu Tolgoi Expansion Accelerates 
NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead 
Lost in space: MethaneSat failed just as NZ was to take over mission control – here’s what we need to know now 
Astronomers have discovered another puzzling interstellar object − this third one is big, bright and fast 
Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment 
FDA Pilot Program Eases Rules for Nicotine Pouch Makers 
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission 
Nara Medical University and a coating technology company Yamato Shinku-Kougyo Co. have collaborated to produce a nonwoven mask specially treated with a copper alloy to protect wearers from the novel coronavirus.
The developers say their facial gear can quickly render viruses on the covering inactive.
Kazumi Iwamoto, 42, a senior managing director at Yamato Shinku-Kougyo, said they expect ordinary consumers, including those who cannot be vaccinated for some reason, as well as medical workers, to use their products.
The surgical mask, a brainchild with an exceptional antivirus performance made its debut on Feb. 1, recognized as meeting the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS).
In June of last year, the university's Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases suggested that Yamato Shinku-Kougyo, a painting and coating processing firm for resin mold goods, develop a product utilizing a copper alloy to reduce viral infectivity.
Yamato Shinku-Kougyo sprayed an alloy primarily composed of copper on the second layer from the surface using a unique technique called vapor deposition to form a thin membrane across the entire surface.
Copper ions are known to be able to damage the new coronavirus, according to Ryuichi Nakano, an associate professor of microbiology at the university.
Nakano had tested the product against the Delta variant of the virus that he helped culture.
During the test, the virus was reduced to one-millionth of its initial quantity in two minutes. Nakano was amazed to observe that the virus variant became disabled to the point that it fell below detection levels.
Nakamo said he did not predict they could achieve such a high antivirus effect, adding that it would likely have the same effect on the Omicron variant.
It was exhibited in the JIS screening last fall that the copper-treated mask could catch and filter out minute particles and virus-tainted droplets The equipment may serve as a useful barrier against artificial blood.
According to sources, the performance indexes for the product are comparable to those of surgical masks.
The new facial cover, dubbed the Yamato Shinku Mask Premium, has elastic ear loops that are treated to prevent viruses, comes in two sizes: a standard mask and one with slightly shorter ear straps.
A pair of masks is cost 825 yen, plus tax, while a 30-mask pack costs 4,770 yen.
Yamato Shinku-Kougyo was swamped with over 3,000 pre-orders for a total of 100,000 or so masks before beginning sales. The firm is working on a smaller face mask for children.
