Altered Atmosphere: Mexico City Chokes on Smoke



flash animation: Matt Spencer, UC San Diego
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An instrument nicknamed "Laverne" positioned atop a roof in Mexico City blasted tiny particles of pollution apart using a laser, then separated and identified each particle's chemical components.

By collecting the information in real time, the team could track moment-by-moment changes in the composition of the smog.

A technical explanation of how this works.












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