Rainfall can release aerosols, high-speed video shows

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

9 жыл бұрын

Using high-speed cameras, MIT researchers observed that when a raindrop hits a surface, it traps tiny air bubbles at the point of contact. As in a glass of champagne, the bubbles then shoot upward, ultimately bursting from the drop in a fizz of aerosols. (Learn more: bit.ly/1wZYXy5)
The researchers suspect that in natural environments, aerosols may carry aromatic elements, along with bacteria and viruses stored in soil. These aerosols may be released during light or moderate rainfall, and then spread via gusts of wind.
Video produced and edited by Melanie Gonick/MIT
High-speed droplet footage by Youngsoo Joung
Rain falling and bubbles in glass footage: Pond5.com
Music sampled from "Running Waters" by Jason Shaw
freemusicarchive.org/music/Jas...
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Пікірлер: 61

@zn123m 3 жыл бұрын

That reminds me another question, what is the smell of the sunshine for sun dry clothes?

@annevanderwoodsen 9 жыл бұрын

I love the smell of rain. It's Magic

@lfidarraga 4 жыл бұрын

And it has viruses and bacteria

@stopPlannedObsolescence 3 жыл бұрын

u love E coli

@thanksfernuthin 9 жыл бұрын

So ionization has nothing to do with it? I thought I read or heard that molecules in the air become charged during a rain and that ionized air reacts with our olfactory system as a smell. That's why the smell is quite universal regardless of ground conditions. It sounded like a great explanation to me! I guess that's wrong then?

@jonathan3372 2 ай бұрын

Same question. Any references on this, though? I would love to read more about it

@thanksfernuthin 2 ай бұрын

@@jonathan3372 Still in the dark buddy! Didn't look into it. Glad to know other people like knowing how stuff works.

@sohosean 5 жыл бұрын

It’s been speculated that we can smell this as a distinct, pleasant odor because, evolutionarily, it enabled humans to trace sources of water in areas where it may be sparse. Those species that could detect the odor could thus detect where water may be during periods of drought.

@ZiddersRooFurry 9 жыл бұрын

Dear Petrichor, A poem by Zidders And ode to the smell of fresh fallen rain, Sweet liquid of life and natures gain. The ultimate truth of what water's for- Fertile Earths boon, Dear Petrichor. Morning dew sparkle would be bereft without the scent of rain cloud breath. A touch of ozone after lightnings strike provides some flavor to this scent I like. Hot asphalt sizzles with noon day steam as the rain that drizzles feeds all things green. Dampened earth emitting a heady flavor as I close my eyes, inhale, and savor. When sleep overtakes me, I pass into dreams. I smell the rain scent through windows screen. Perhaps while sleeping I'll smell it there, slumber thunders blessing of cool, wet fare.

@isaybuckedy 9 жыл бұрын

I'd love to buy a product of canned petrichor, but I think along with the gorgeous aroma is the breaking of rain and warmth in the air. It's very sensory and I have terrible grammar!

@drjoopj 5 жыл бұрын

Ozone? Thunderstorms.....electricity.....ozone And if this was truly responsible for the smell then one would logically conclude at the smell of rain is unique to the location... So the characteristic smell would not be as universal and familiar as it is. The rain smell is the ozone from the electrostatically charged air. Didn't we cover this in middle school science class?

@SeniorAdrian 9 жыл бұрын

Fantastic job guys.

@cogniterra 5 жыл бұрын

It all looks so lovely until they mention e.coli!

@sola237 8 жыл бұрын

amazing. just love this.

@mjones410 9 жыл бұрын

just a thought, I guess if these aerosols are carrying disease and bacteria the danger period would be before the rain when you smell them on the approaching wind, as during the rain they are less likely to float around as they would be re-absorbed by the rain.

@jipes 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing mother Nature

@dwagondrakelord3113 9 жыл бұрын

I actually wanted to know if they could make a perfume with that aroma, cus I'd love to buy it...

@FlamingoRTG 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve Asked Myself A Question About rain

@Bibbly53 9 жыл бұрын

This is the kind of research I bash my head against the wall about. It's something many people have probably observed and recorded, mentioned in passing. But until someone has it published in a research paper it isn't quantifiable! Bashing my head against the wall releases complex compounds which were discovered through this type of observant research. My message has been mixed. I am the bar tender of bad ideas and foggy memories, imbibe my words.

@tamriilin 9 жыл бұрын

do i need to call somebody for you? are you okay

@Bibbly53 9 жыл бұрын

tamriilin View the content I've put on KZfaq and the answer is yours.

@HinoarashiSuzaku 9 жыл бұрын

Awesome :)

@RoboTekno 9 жыл бұрын

Fancy MIT Scientist, "Good evening everyone. After thousands of dollars, years of research, and enough graduate student papers to fill a janitor's closet, our findings have brought us to the conclusion that water *does* indeed splash when it hits the ground."

@jasonkane7231 9 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks for making this video in Winter, when you can't get the smell. REALLY APPRECIATED -_-'

@CrazedComposure 9 жыл бұрын

0:39 - Sorry to nitpick, MIT, but what is a "raintrop"?

@lrkrause10 9 жыл бұрын

JUST SOME THOUGHTS

@Syhkane 9 жыл бұрын

Song?

@nightmares4q 9 жыл бұрын

Faascinating.

@carir.5978 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, the "great Students"... I now it, when I was 5 Years old... What is the New??? I like also the smell on rainwet Street.

@Meme-hy3hp Жыл бұрын

Lol so trivial but very cool mechanism nonetheless

@Paul122157 9 жыл бұрын

So does staying indoors during rainy times and coming in contact with a lot of concentrated bacteria get you sick or going out during or after the rain and getting a nice dose of aerosol-ized bacteria get you sick? This feels like a trap... lol

@GuidoPerdomo 9 жыл бұрын

can the flu be spread by this mechanism too?

@lfidarraga 4 жыл бұрын

So my mother was always right 😌

@MIgardener 9 жыл бұрын

It is science! Science rules.

@spoygg 9 жыл бұрын

Nature rules, science explains :)

@infiltron8227 5 жыл бұрын

Wait so doesn't this mean diseases are easier to be caught in winter, where it rains so much? But then explain why this wasn't the case during the black death/great plague. Why was it more dangerous in summer? It couldn't just be because there was more pests around, was it?