Aerosols are tiny but powerful particles, shaping air quality, human health, and the climate in ways that are often invisible yet profound. Depending on their makeup, aerosols can reflect sunlight and cool the planet or absorb heat and warm the atmosphere, making them one of the most complex and consequential pieces of today’s climate puzzle.

Dr. Richard Peltier, Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he leads research on air quality, aerosol chemistry, and the health impacts of pollution, joins the podcast to unpack aerosol chemistry, exposure, and health impacts—from measurement and monitoring to real-world policy relevance in a warming world.

His research focuses on which particulate components drive disease risk and how improving air quality can protect health globally, bringing rigorous science and on-the-ground insight to the climate–health conversation.