PolyU researchers compile world’s first “atlas” of airborne microbes that provides an important new perspective for public health research

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 November 2022 – Bacteria are truly abundant across the Earth’s surface, from the soil to the oceans. The microbial population of the air that surrounds us is comparatively unknown, but a research expedition led by PolyU scientists is about to change that. After nearly a decade of effort, they have compiled a comprehensive map of the world’s airborne microbes, providing fresh insights into how these species interact with the surface environment – as well as their likely future changes.