How a Nondescript Box Has Been Saving Lives during the Pandemic – and Revealing the Power of Grassroots Innovation

The story of the Corsi-Rosenthal box is part of a broader story of the grassroots response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Is Dust? And Where Does It All Come From?

Everything in our homes gathers dust. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from, and why does it keep coming back? Is it from outside? Is it fibers from our clothes and cells from our skin?

How Hot Is Too Hot For The Human Body? Our Lab Found Heat + Humidity Gets Dangerous Faster Than Many People Realize

The answer goes beyond the temperature you see on the thermometer. It’s also about humidity. Our research shows the combination of the two can get dangerous faster than scientists previously believed.

Human Exposure to Wildfires Has More than Doubled in Two Decades – Who is at Risk Might Surprise You

Over the past two decades, a staggering 21.8 million Americans found themselves living within 3 miles (5 kilometers) of a large wildfire. Most of those residents would have had to evacuate, and many would have been exposed to smoke and emotional trauma from the fire. This article was originally published on July 3, 2023 in the Conversation US. Authored by Mojtaba Sadegh. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Wildfire Smoke Changes Dramatically as it Ages, and That Matters for Downwind Air Quality – Here’s What We Learned Flying through Smoke Plumes

Wildfire smoke changes dramatically as it ages, and that matters for downwind air quality – here’s what we learned flying through smoke plumes Sampling wildfire smoke sometimes means sticking a tube out the window of an airplane. Brett Palm/University of Washington, CC BY-ND Brett B. Palm, University of Washington The year 2020 will be remembered for […]

Wildfire Smoke FAQ: What’s Happening with Air Quality Right Now and Why? What are the Risks? How do I Protect Myself Short-Term? What about Long-term Protection? Is this the ‘New Normal?

With wildfire smoke affecting most of North America, what are the best ways to minimize the health impacts of air pollution under climate change? Here are answers to some key questions about the ongoing air quality problems.