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Re-activateGet out the vacuum. The amount of dust in the Earth's atmosphere has nearly doubled over the past 100 years, according to a new study from Cornell University.
Using data and computer modeling, researchers were able to estimate the amount of desert dust, or soil particles in the atmosphere over the past century. "It's hard to nail down exactly what is causing this," says Natalie Mahowald, lead researcher and associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, adding that climate variation, natural or human induced, and agricultural practices and pasture usage that disturb the topsoil are considerations.
What Mahowald didn't measure is whether homes have become twice as dusty, but you're the lead researcher on that study. To prevent dust from scattering when vacuuming bare floors, use the brush on/off switch. And if you're shopping for a vacuum, don't choose a model for its HEPA filter claims. Some vacuums with regular filters kept in dust just as well in our tests. Our Ratings, available to subscribers, include 84 uprights and canisters. They tell you which models excel at cleaning carpets, and which are great for bare floors. So when the dust settles, you can clean it up.
—Kimberly Janeway
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