ASU Researchers Find 10 Million Bacteria in Fog, Cutting Formaldehyde Pollution
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 29
ASU Researchers Find 10 Million Bacteria in Fog, Cutting Formaldehyde Pollution
1 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 29
Arizona State University researchers found living bacteria inside radiation fog droplets that grow, divide and actively break down formaldehyde, overturning the view of fog as chemically passive moisture.
Less than 1% of droplets contained bacteria, but a thimble-sized sample still held about 10 million cells—enough for total concentrations comparable to the ocean, the team reported in mBio.
Methylobacteria became more abundant during fog events than in dry air and used formaldehyde both as food and as protection against the toxin, converting it into carbon dioxide inside the droplets.
The work suggests fog can function as a temporary ecosystem and that atmospheric models focused mainly on physics and chemistry may be missing biological processes that affect air quality, nighttime chemistry and possibly climate.
The findings also raise practical questions for fog-harvesting water systems in dry regions, where collected fog may carry active microbial communities and require treatment before drinking.
If fog is a living 'air purifier,' could it also pose new health risks?
Nature's secret weapon against pollution is hiding in fog. Can we harness it for our cities?
Beyond Moisture: How Fog’s Microbial Communities Clean the Air and Challenge Atmospheric Science
Overview
Researchers at Arizona State University made a groundbreaking discovery that changed how scientists view fog. Instead of being just atmospheric moisture, fog is now understood as a vibrant, air-cleaning ecosystem. This shift began when cloud researcher Thi Thuong Thuong Cao asked if fog could support life. Working with a team of microbiologists, chemists, and atmospheric scientists, they collected fog samples and found that bacteria inside fog droplets were actively growing and thriving. This surprising finding challenged traditional atmospheric models and led to a major mindset change, revealing fog as a living system that helps clean the air.