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Air quality: tiny particles with big effects Ultrafine particles (UFPs) from auto exhaust, factory emissions, and woodburning negatively affect human health and can alter weather patterns. UFPs, particles less than 100 nanometers, smaller than the smallest bacterium, are the most common airborne particles. Their size allows them to penetrate the deepest lung passageways, sometimes carrying toxic metals or organic compounds that trigger inflammation and disease. Hyouk-Soo Kwon at the University of Ulsan, Seoul, South Korea, and coworkers have reviewed the sources and effects of UFPs. Auto engines are a primary source; recent improvements in combustion technology have resulted in production of smaller particles, with worse effects on health. UFPs have also been found to affect cloud formation and behavior, altering rainfall patterns and potentially causing flooding or drought. Understanding the properties of UFPs will help find ways to mitigate their effects.