Exploring the Hidden History of Our Air

This week, an intriguing conversation took place with acclaimed author Carl Zimmer about his latest work, "Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe." This book delves deep into the often-overlooked epidemiological history concerning our understanding of air and its vital connection to disease.

For centuries, society has been haunted by the belief in airborne miasmas, which heavily influenced urban design and architecture. Although the science behind the miasma theory was fundamentally flawed, the emphasis on ventilation and maintaining clean air was surprisingly progressive for its time.

In this enlightening discussion, Roman and Carl unpack one of the book's most provocative ideas: we ought to treat our indoor air with the same importance we assign to tap water. This means recognizing air as a communal asset that necessitates rigorous standards, monitoring, and adequate protection.

Such a transformative viewpoint could fundamentally reshape how we conceive of and interact with our living and working spaces, encouraging a collective awareness of the air we all share.

Mark Your Calendar for a Special Event!

Additionally, don't miss out on an upcoming event in San Francisco! Emmett FitzGerald will be interviewing author and 99PI contributor Sam Bloch at the Commonwealth Club on Tuesday, July 29th. They’ll dive into the exciting topics covered in Sam's remarkable book, "Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource," which highlights the crucial benefits of something we often take for granted.