Breakthrough targets a long-standing gap in air pollution science
Scientists at the University of Warwick have reported a solution to a problem that has challenged air pollution research for about 100 years: predicting how irregularly shaped nanoparticles drift through the air people breathe.
Nanoparticles are extremely small airborne particles that can include soot, microplastics and viruses. These particles have been associated with serious health risks, but accurately forecasting how they travel and settle has remained difficult when their shapes are not uniform.
Why particle shape has been a major obstacle
Many existing models simplify calculations by treating nanoparticles as perfectly spherical. While convenient, this approach can reduce accuracy because real-world particles often have complex forms—elongated, jagged or otherwise uneven—affecting how they move through air.
According to the Warwick team, the challenge has been to create a method that is both accurate and easy enough to use widely, without requiring complicated shape-by-shape simulations.
A reworked formula aims to predict motion for almost any shape
The researchers addressed this by revisiting and adapting a formula that dates back roughly a century. By reworking that established mathematical approach, they developed what they describe as the first simple and accurate way to estimate the movement of nanoparticles with a wide variety of shapes.
The updated method is designed to predict how irregular particles behave as they drift in air, improving the ability to model their transport compared with sphere-based assumptions.
Potential impact for pollution and health-related research
The work is relevant because nanoparticles are not limited to industrial pollution. They can also include biological material such as viruses, as well as fragments like microplastics. Understanding how such particles travel can support research into exposure pathways and help refine broader air-quality science.
By offering a straightforward predictive tool that works across many shapes, the Warwick approach could enable more realistic modelling in studies that track airborne particles. The research was reported by ScienceDaily based on findings from the University of Warwick.