2020’s 20 most-read stories on Ars Technica

Let's just state the obvious: 2020 stank. It has been a terrible year on so many metrics, no matter where on this celestial orb you live. So we're going to do something slightly different this time around for our top 20 most-read stories. We're going to have two lists: the top 5 COVID-19 related stories and everything else. So if you have had more COVID coverage than you can possibly handle, please—skip ahead with our blessing. If not, here we go:

2020 in review, COVID section

5. Here’s what WHO says your mask should have to prevent COVID-19 spread

One thing we've prided ourselves on throughout our 22-year history is that we educate people. When we launched back in late 1998, that meant covering stuff like overclocking Celerons. In 2020, we did the same thing, but with COVID-19. So it's fitting that the first story on the COVID-only countdown is about how to choose a good mask.

Early on in the pandemic, there was confusing messaging on masks, and it wasn't until late spring that the World Health Organization issued guidance to mask the public. "This is new novel research, that WHO commissioned, that we didn't have a month ago," said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on the COVID-19 response. In short, three-layer masks are the best, with hydrophobic material on the outside and hydrophilic materials on the inside.