What about the masks and their effectiveness?

Masks. How do they protect a person from infection spread by another person? Where, what, is the science?

Un-Masking the Origin and the Purpose of the Surgical Mask

While recently undergoing examination by physician, I was required to wear a surgical mask; he wore a N95 mask. I remarked, “Your mask and my own both do the same thing: they both protect you from me.” He shrugged and nodded agreement.