Scientists have finally solved a long-standing puzzle in the way we model air pollution. Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a new method to predict how irregularly shaped nanoparticles move through the air.

They achieved this by updating a century-old formula known as the Cunningham correction factor. By expanding this old rule, they created a more versatile mathematical tool called a "correction tensor," which is a framework that accounts for movement in multiple directions at once. This breakthrough allows for accurate predictions for particles of almost any shape without the need for slow, complex computer simulations. This discovery could lead to better models for tracking the spread of air pollution, improving climate science, and advancing public health research.