The untold origin story of the N95 mask

In the fall of 1910, a plague broke out across Manchuria-what we know now as Northern China-which was broken up in politically complex jurisdictions shared between China and Russia.

"It's apocalyptic. Unbelievable. It kills 100% of those infected, no one survives. And it kills them within 24 to 48 hours of the first symptoms," says Lynteris. "No one has come across something like this in modern times, and it is similar to the descriptions of Black Death."

What followed was a scientific arms race, to deduce what was causing the plague and stop it. "Both Russia and China want to prove themselves worthy and scientific enough, because that would lead to a claim of sovereignty," says Lynteris. "Whomever is scientific enough should be given control of this rich and important area."