Bacteria in Air So Numerous They Form Clouds

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
By Andrea Thompson

Germs really are everywhere: Bacteria, fungal spores and other biological detritus have been found in clouds and likely help to form the cores of cloud droplets, scientists have found.

The study of the role that these biological particles play in cloud formation could help refine one of the biggest uncertainties left in climate change predictions — how clouds influence climate.

Scientists have long known that microorganisms, or parts of them, can become airborne and travel great distances. the rest image