The University of Queensland

Aerosol glassy states promote global warming, airborne toxins and pathogens (ARC Discovery Project administered by Queensland University of Technology) (2021–2024)

Abstract:

This project will improve our understanding of the role played by airborne particles in global climate, pollution and the transmission of influenza, corona virus and the common cold. It will do so by revealing the wider importance of "glassy states" of matter recently revealed in atmospheric aerosols. Glassy states are highly unpredictable quasi solids that abruptly form, interrupting the transition of a liquid to a solid. This interruption invalidates equilibrium assumptions of models of droplets as cloud nuclei and infection vectors. We will develop and validate a numerical tool for predicting glassy state formation and its impact in broad classes of aerosol that include particles critical to cloud formation and infection transmission.

Grant type:

Queensland University of Technology

Researchers:

• 

  Associate Professor Kirsty Short

  NHMRC Principal Research Fellow
  

  School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

  Faculty of Science

Funded by:

Queensland University of Technology