US scientists discover: bacteria in fog purify air of toxins

US scientists have made a surprising discovery: bacteria living in fog don't simply drift passively in the air but actively grow and reproduce there. Moreover, some of these microorganisms break down air pollutants, including toxic formaldehyde-like compounds. Fog can thus act as a kind of natural air purifier.

US scientists have made a discovery that changes our understanding of fog and the role of bacteria living in the air. It turns out that the microbes living in fog droplets are not simply passive passengers carried by the wind, they actively grow and reproduce there.

Bacteria live and act in fog

Previously, it was believed that bacteria found in the atmosphere ended up there by chance and survived there only for a short time. However, new research shows that the fog environment provides conditions that allow microorganisms to develop fully, meaning that air is a far more hospitable environment for bacteria than previously thought.

Fog as a natural air purifier

The most surprising part of the discovery relates to the breakdown of air pollution. Some bacteria present in fog can break down toxic chemical compounds, including formaldehyde-like substances that harm human health. This means that under certain conditions, fog can act as a kind of natural air purifier, neutralizing environmental pollutants.

The discovery opens new possibilities in both environmental science and air quality research. Scientists hope that in the future, these bacterial properties can be used, for example, in developing solutions for cleaning urban air.