Linsey Marr
@linseymarr.bsky.social
Engineering professor at Virginia Tech with expertise in air pollution, airborne microbes, nanotechnology. Avid recreational athlete.
What a loss that @marinavance.bsky.social's EPA-funded research on wildfire smoke in homes has been canceled! I remain a proud academic mom. She did her PhD on exposure to engineered nanoparticles @virginiatech.bsky.social, right as my lab was shifting to study viruses in the air.
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14
December 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
What a loss that @marinavance.bsky.social's EPA-funded research on wildfire smoke in homes has been canceled! I remain a proud academic mom. She did her PhD on exposure to engineered nanoparticles @virginiatech.bsky.social, right as my lab was shifting to study viruses in the air.
Gift article about LA wildfires: "Visits to the emergency department rose 46% for heart attacks and 24% for pneumonia and other pulmonary illnesses compared with earlier years, the researchers reported."
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Heart Attacks, Lung Conditions Jumped After Los Angeles Wildfires
Mysterious illnesses also rose after the fires, according to a new study that reviewed emergency-department visits.
www.wsj.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Gift article about LA wildfires: "Visits to the emergency department rose 46% for heart attacks and 24% for pneumonia and other pulmonary illnesses compared with earlier years, the researchers reported."
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
We are excited to invite abstract submissions for talks and posters for the 2026 Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases meeting at Virginia Tech (June 2-4). Abstract submissions should be made by February 3, 2026 for consideration, using the google form here: cpe.vt.edu/eeid2026/abs...
December 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
We are excited to invite abstract submissions for talks and posters for the 2026 Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases meeting at Virginia Tech (June 2-4). Abstract submissions should be made by February 3, 2026 for consideration, using the google form here: cpe.vt.edu/eeid2026/abs...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
1. Looks like we're into #flu season, folks. A 🧵
#CDC reports that for the week ending 12/6, 3.2% of medical visits were for flu-like illnesses. The baseline — ie the point where flu season is considered to have started — is 3.1%.
This timing is pretty normal, coming after the mixing at Thanksgiving
#CDC reports that for the week ending 12/6, 3.2% of medical visits were for flu-like illnesses. The baseline — ie the point where flu season is considered to have started — is 3.1%.
This timing is pretty normal, coming after the mixing at Thanksgiving
December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Fascinating outlook on similarities in aerosolization of microbes from the ocean surface and respiratory tract fluid by Dommer @rommieamaro.bsky.social @kprather.bsky.social
A new review explores one of the themes of my book Air-Borne: our lungs are like the ocean. Both send life into the atmosphere. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
December 8, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Fascinating outlook on similarities in aerosolization of microbes from the ocean surface and respiratory tract fluid by Dommer @rommieamaro.bsky.social @kprather.bsky.social
Six-week study of 67 students in four classes, 1047 saliva samples ->
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
The relative contribution of close-proximity contacts, shared classroom exposure and indoor air quality to respiratory virus transmission in schools - Nature Communications
The relative importance of close-proximity interactions, shared space and air quality to the transmission of respiratory viruses is not well understood. Here, the authors investigate this question by ...
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Six-week study of 67 students in four classes, 1047 saliva samples ->
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
Free access to the final version of "Ten questions concerning indoor dust" for the next 50 days at authors.elsevier.com/c/1m7oK1HudN...
@ericamhartmann.bsky.social
@ericamhartmann.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Free access to the final version of "Ten questions concerning indoor dust" for the next 50 days at authors.elsevier.com/c/1m7oK1HudN...
@ericamhartmann.bsky.social
@ericamhartmann.bsky.social
Reposted by Linsey Marr
NEW: We traced out a devastating outbreak of bird flu to its source: an egg farm in Ohio. Where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: We traced out a devastating outbreak of bird flu to its source: an egg farm in Ohio. Where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
Within weeks, the farms downwind were about 20 times as likely to see outbreaks as those that weren’t.
Very excited that Blueprint Biosecurity is funding studies that will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure! We're looking at infectious flu virus in respiratory particles with and without far-UVC.
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
Press Release: Building the Evidence Base for Far-UVC – Blueprint Biosecurity
New research initiative aimed at evaluating the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure
blueprintbiosecurity.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Very excited that Blueprint Biosecurity is funding studies that will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure! We're looking at infectious flu virus in respiratory particles with and without far-UVC.
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
Thanks to Erica Hartmann for leading a newly published paper, "Ten questions concerning indoor dust."
What is it?
Where does it come from?
How does it mediate environmental exposures?
How does it affect chemicals indoors?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
What is it?
Where does it come from?
How does it mediate environmental exposures?
How does it affect chemicals indoors?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Thanks to Erica Hartmann for leading a newly published paper, "Ten questions concerning indoor dust."
What is it?
Where does it come from?
How does it mediate environmental exposures?
How does it affect chemicals indoors?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
What is it?
Where does it come from?
How does it mediate environmental exposures?
How does it affect chemicals indoors?
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
We are honored to share that @linseymarr.bsky.social of @vtengineering.bsky.social will give the Eighteenth Annual Gaden Lecture. Named after alumnus, former faculty member, department chair, and "father of biochemical engineering" Elmer L. Gaden Jr., it is our most prestigious lecture of the year.
November 6, 2025 at 11:30 PM
We are honored to share that @linseymarr.bsky.social of @vtengineering.bsky.social will give the Eighteenth Annual Gaden Lecture. Named after alumnus, former faculty member, department chair, and "father of biochemical engineering" Elmer L. Gaden Jr., it is our most prestigious lecture of the year.
Evidence continues to accumulate linking exposure to air pollution with dementia. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/h...
What the Air You Breathe May Be Doing to Your Brain
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Evidence continues to accumulate linking exposure to air pollution with dementia. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/h...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
Could a “smoke alarm” for airborne contaminants monitor and improve the quality of the air indoors? (Where Americans spend 90 percent of their time!)
An interdisciplinary research team led by @linseymarr.bsky.social will create such a system that could cut respiratory illnesses by 25 percent. 👏
An interdisciplinary research team led by @linseymarr.bsky.social will create such a system that could cut respiratory illnesses by 25 percent. 👏
Up to $40 million in federal funding fuels research to revolutionize clean indoor air
With the contract from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an interdisciplinary research team led by Virginia Tech and Linsey Marr will create a “smoke alarm” for airborne contaminants t...
news.vt.edu
October 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Could a “smoke alarm” for airborne contaminants monitor and improve the quality of the air indoors? (Where Americans spend 90 percent of their time!)
An interdisciplinary research team led by @linseymarr.bsky.social will create such a system that could cut respiratory illnesses by 25 percent. 👏
An interdisciplinary research team led by @linseymarr.bsky.social will create such a system that could cut respiratory illnesses by 25 percent. 👏
Healthy indoor air is a proven prescription for public health that can help fortify our buildings and enhance people’s health, protecting against respiratory diseases and illnesses, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.
resources.wellcertified.com/press-releas...
resources.wellcertified.com/press-releas...
October 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Healthy indoor air is a proven prescription for public health that can help fortify our buildings and enhance people’s health, protecting against respiratory diseases and illnesses, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.
resources.wellcertified.com/press-releas...
resources.wellcertified.com/press-releas...
I have a lot of travel coming up, and it's that time of year, so I just got my flu and COVID shots.
October 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I have a lot of travel coming up, and it's that time of year, so I just got my flu and COVID shots.
Glad to have the support of Representative Morgan Griffith for our new ARPA-H BREATHE award @virginiatech.bsky.social!
morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documen...
morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documen...
U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith
“ARPA-H is dedicated to reducing airborne threats to human health.
morgangriffith.house.gov
October 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Glad to have the support of Representative Morgan Griffith for our new ARPA-H BREATHE award @virginiatech.bsky.social!
morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documen...
morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documen...
You know Jeff Siegel is in town when he whips out deodorant to see if its terpene emissions react with ozone from my new far-UVC lamps to generate secondary aerosol.
He gave a great seminar about HVAC filter forensics!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
He gave a great seminar about HVAC filter forensics!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 3, 2025 at 8:35 PM
You know Jeff Siegel is in town when he whips out deodorant to see if its terpene emissions react with ozone from my new far-UVC lamps to generate secondary aerosol.
He gave a great seminar about HVAC filter forensics!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
He gave a great seminar about HVAC filter forensics!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
We have a new PhD project to study ozone formation from fires. If interested in atmospheric chemistry, fires, living in Zurich, and studying at ETH, consider applying here: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
PhD Position in Atmospheric Chemistry
jobs.ethz.ch
September 30, 2025 at 8:08 AM
We have a new PhD project to study ozone formation from fires. If interested in atmospheric chemistry, fires, living in Zurich, and studying at ETH, consider applying here: jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOP...
I'm thrilled to be leading, along with AJ Prussin II, an ARPA-H BREATHE team that will integrate new biosensors, risk assessment software, and engineering controls to bring clean and healthy indoor air to more buildings.
arpah.gov/news-and-eve...
arpah.gov/news-and-eve...
BREATHE research teams kick off efforts to enhance indoor air quality to improve health, advance the future of smart buildings
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supports transformative research to drive biomedical and health breakthroughs ranging from molecular to societal to provide transformative hea...
arpah.gov
September 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I'm thrilled to be leading, along with AJ Prussin II, an ARPA-H BREATHE team that will integrate new biosensors, risk assessment software, and engineering controls to bring clean and healthy indoor air to more buildings.
arpah.gov/news-and-eve...
arpah.gov/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Linsey Marr
Now with update 🙌
September 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Now with update 🙌
Influenza A virus RNA found in airborne particles from pigs across a range of particle sizes. For reference a 10 micron particle takes ~8 minutes to settle to the ground from a height of 5 feet. That's plenty of time for it to drift around and be inhaled by others.
September 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Influenza A virus RNA found in airborne particles from pigs across a range of particle sizes. For reference a 10 micron particle takes ~8 minutes to settle to the ground from a height of 5 feet. That's plenty of time for it to drift around and be inhaled by others.
National Academies @health.nationalacademies.org Workshop on Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings happening now at www.nationalacademies.org/event/45411_...
www.nationalacademies.org
September 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
National Academies @health.nationalacademies.org Workshop on Personal Protective Equipment for Influenza A (H5N1) in High-Risk Farm Settings happening now at www.nationalacademies.org/event/45411_...
Glad to see the toxic fume problem being addressed. Gift link to unlocked article:
www.wsj.com/business/air...
www.wsj.com/business/air...
September 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Glad to see the toxic fume problem being addressed. Gift link to unlocked article:
www.wsj.com/business/air...
www.wsj.com/business/air...
The momentum for clean indoor air continues to build. I attended the inaugural High-Level Side Event on indoor air quality at the UN General Assembly yesterday. Short remarks by Lidia Morawska @joeallenjoe.bsky.social @isiaq.bsky.social Pres. Kerry Kinney, ASHRAE, WHO, UNEP, many others.
September 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The momentum for clean indoor air continues to build. I attended the inaugural High-Level Side Event on indoor air quality at the UN General Assembly yesterday. Short remarks by Lidia Morawska @joeallenjoe.bsky.social @isiaq.bsky.social Pres. Kerry Kinney, ASHRAE, WHO, UNEP, many others.
Fascinating new observations about the corpse plant, such as, "the corpse plant’s powerful emission rates can be an order of magnitude stronger than landfills – albeit only for two nights." Most-emitted compound? Methanethiol, a skunky compound.
A rare bloom of Cosmo, CSU’s corpse plant, gave my group (Rose Rossell and @chemj.bsky.social) the chance to study corpse flower emissions in a fun collaboration with Tofwerk. Turns out to be an interesting, if stinky, story of pollination chemistry…
How a corpse plant makes its terrible smell − it has a strategy, and its female flowers do most of the work
When a corpse flower bloomed on campus, atmospheric scientists got to work. What they discovered provides new evidence about the unique pollination strategies of a very unusual flower.
theconversation.com
September 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Fascinating new observations about the corpse plant, such as, "the corpse plant’s powerful emission rates can be an order of magnitude stronger than landfills – albeit only for two nights." Most-emitted compound? Methanethiol, a skunky compound.