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The best portable air purifiers for 2025

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Monday, March 3, 2025

Numerous studies reveal that Indoor air can be more polluted than the air outside. Air purifiers can help improve indoor air quality. However, more powerful smart models are quite bulky and hard to transport from one room—or place—to the next. Many air purifiers for home can weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, making them difficult to move. “Portable air purifiers can help improve your home’s indoor air quality by actively reducing indoor particulate matter and airborne allergens,” says Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd. Since air purifiers are designed to clean the air in one room or area effectively, portability is essential if you only have one air purifier. “You’ll want it in the living room when you’re in that room and in the bedroom when you’re there,” McKeon explains. You may also want to take an air purifier—like our best overall, the TruSens Air Purifier—with you to work or when you’re visiting environments that can trigger allergies. The best portable air purifiers are not only easy to move, but they also have many of the same features (on a smaller scale) as larger models. Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier Best design: Smartmi Air Purifier Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier How we chose the best portable air purifiers To compile this list of the best portable air purifiers, we conducted extensive research, contacted Dr. John McKeon and Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and did lots of first-hand testing. We wanted to provide a variety of choices, so the list is a mix of smallish, lightweight air purifiers with handles, and handheld air purifiers that can fit in a vehicle’s cup holder. We also considered peer recommendations and consumer reviews, the clean air delivery rate (CADR), recommended room sizes, filtration, and noise levels. The best portable air purifiers: Reviews & Recommendations As a general rule, the CADR is one of the most critical factors. However, if you need a portable air purifier, the CADR doesn’t really matter if the air purifier is too big and bulky to transport as needed. Some of our articles, like the best smart air purifiers, and the best air purifiers for asthma, include some models with a CADR as high as the 400 to 600 range, which is exceptionally high, considering the average “good” air purifier has a CADR in the 200 range. However, the air purifiers with the highest CADR tend to be big and bulky, so they’re not conducive to moving. So, most of the air purifiers on this list have a good CADR (when that information is available), but keep in mind that, as a general rule, a smaller air purifier isn’t going to deliver the same power as a much larger model. McKeon also says it is important to remember that an air purifier is only one part of a comprehensive approach to improving indoor air quality. “It’s most effective when used in conjunction with other strategies, such as regular cleaning, proper ventilation, and effective source control of pollutants,” he says. But you’re here to improve your environment with the best portable air purifiers, so read on. Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier Terri Williams Pros Stylish design Handle makes it easy to transport UV, Carbon, and HEPA filtration Three fan speeds Cons No auto mode Specs Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 17 inches Weight: 8.81 pounds Recommended coverage area: Up to 443 sq. ft. CADR: N/A Noise level: 30 – 65 dB I’ve had the TrueSens Small Air Purifier for years, and it’s like an old friend I can always rely on. I have smoking neighbors and tend to use larger, more powerful air purifiers in my living space. However, I keep the TruSens Small Air Purifier downstairs in my garage, which doesn’t get as much smoke—but still a fair amount, and also experiences a variety of other smells. The air purifier does an excellent job of removing those odors and smells. It has a three-part filtration process that includes a HEPA Type filter, a carbon filter, and a UV-C light (which I never use—it can be turned on and off). The air purifier traps dust, pet dander, smoke, and other allergen, and the bi-directional airflow quickly delivers fresh air. The air purifier has three fan speeds (including a Turbo option), providing options for letting me control the airflow and noise level. The touch controls on the top are easy to operate, and the display panel reveals the speed and lets me know when the filters need to be replaced. This is our top choice because it has an excellent price, is easy to transport, and is quite effective for the scenarios in which most people would use an air purifier. It also has a sleek and space-saving design and is lightweight enough to grab by the handle and move from room to room or even toss in your car and carry to work or other locations. TruSens also makes this air purifier in medium and large sizes, and those models include additional features, like real-time air monitoring, washable pre-filter, timer, and additional fan speeds. Best design: Smartmi P1 Air Purifier Terri Williams Pros App Voice control Dual-laser particle sensor Leather strap Choice of filter Cons Have to turn it upside down to replace the filter Specs Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 17 inches Weight: 3 kg Recommended coverage area: 180 to 320 sq. ft. CADR: 250 Noise level: 19 – 49 dB At first glance, the Smartmi P1 Air Purifier looks like a knockoff of the Molecule Air Mini+ air purifier, which also has a leather strap. However, the Molecule Air Mini (which costs twice as much) only has a small leather strap on the side (with space for one or two fingers), whereas the Smartmi P1 has a stylish leather strap across the entire top. I’ve tested the Molecle, and the Smartmi strap feels much sturdier and doesn’t put all the weight on one or two fingers. The Smarti has a great design overall and is certainly one of the best-looking air purifiers on the market, But that’s not the only reason it gets our best design award. The Smartmi P1 also offers a choice of 2 filter types. The Pollen filter is a good choice for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. There’s also a Pet Filter that’s helpful if you have furry friends in your home. Both filters contain a True HEPA filter, preliminary filter for large particles, and carbon/inner filter, and can remove dust, smoke, pet dander, and other allergens. The touch controls and LCD monitor are on the top and include a dual PM 2.5/PM 10 particle sensor to capture both small and large particles in the air. The air purifier has a timer as well. Since it’s a smart air purifier, I can control it via smartphone or voice control. Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier Terri Williams Pros Fits in vehicle cup tray Several color choices Rechargeable battery Three fan speeds Sits horizontally or vertically Cons Only for a personal bubble Specs Dimensions: 3.3 x 8.5 x 2.7 inches Weight: 0.6 ounces Recommended coverage area: 54 sq. ft. CADR: N/A Noise level: Up to 50 dB If it’s possible for an air purifier to be fun, the Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier certainly is. It’s about the size of a 12-ounce soft drink and fits in my car’s cup holder. It’s also small enough to toss in my handbag or suitcase. When traveling, this air purifier allows me to purify the air when I’m in a hotel room or staying with family members or friends. And the fact that it’s battery-operated means I can use it literally everywhere. Although it’s small, the PureZone Mini works well. It has a dual HEPA filter that also includes an activated charcoal filter. The device has three fan speeds, but you must remember that the higher the speed, the quicker the battery runs out and needs to be recharged. The air purifier filters everything from dust to smoke to pollen and pet dander. One of my favorite features is the adjustable handle. This allows me to stand the device upright or tilt it on the side so it can be used vertically or horizontally. And when it’s hot, the air purifier also doubles as a small fan, providing both purified and cool air. Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier Terri Williams Pros Smartphone control Lightweight Voice control Real-time air-quality indicator Cons Bulky compared to others on this list Specs Dimensions: 18.3 x 9.6 x 16.8 inches Weight: 12.3 pounds Recommended coverage area: up to 1,575 sq ft CADR: 221 Noise level: 24 – 53 dB While not necessarily an expensive air purifier (we’ve tested models that cost well over $1,000), the Coway AP-1512HH Air Purifier is the most expensive model on this list, which is why it’s our splurge choice. It can cover up to 1,474 sq. ft., and we think this model is a good portable choice for large rooms. The air purifier is easy to operate and the filtration system includes a pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and a Fresh Starter deodorizer filter, so it can capture both larger and smaller particles while also removing cooking and tobacco odors. The user-friendly control panel on the top lets me view real-time air-quality data, and the color-coded indicators turn blue when the air is fresh and clean, yellow when it’s problematic, and red when the air is unhealthy. There are five speeds, and when the air purifier is in auto mode, the fan will automatically increase or decrease depending on the air-quality indicator data. I can also set the timer for 1, 4, or 8 hours. The filter replacement light (one for the HEPA filter, one for the deodorizer filter) comes on when one of the filters needs to be replaced. What to consider when buying the best portable air purifiers There are several factors to consider when deciding which portable air purifier is right for you. When writing this guide, these are the factors we considered most important. Room Size An air purifier may be effective in a smaller room but less effective in a larger room. That’s why we included the recommended room size for each air purifier on our list. Ensure you’re not expecting the air purifier to clean more space than it’s recommended to handle. CADR For air-cleaning effectiveness, McKeon says selecting the correct Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for the room size is vital. “This is an important metric, which indicates the volume of filtered air an air cleaner can deliver, with separate scores when the device was tested with smoke, pollen, and dust challenges.” (Note: Some manufacturers combine the scores for smoke, pollen, and dust and just list the average CADR rating of the three tests.) “A higher CADR means the device can filter more particles,” McKeon says. Filtration Filtration is another important factor to continue, and the presence of a HEPA filter is always a good sign. “HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air,” Mendez explains. “These filters are media-based, meaning that they are physical filters, which capture particles as air passes through them, and HEPA filters are designed to filter out at least 99.7 percent of particles of 0.3 microns or larger diameter,” he says. Smart Smart features can make the air purifier easier to operate. For example, some models have an app, so you can control it using your smartphone and even issue voice commands. Other smart features include the ability to auto-detect the level of air purification needed and adjust the airflow accordingly. FAQS Q: How do air purifiers work? “Portable air purifiers function similarly to whole-home systems, but they are designed to clean the air in a specific room,” McKeon says. “They draw air in and pass it through specific filters to remove airborne pollutants, and. they’re often used to address specific areas, like rooms most affected by smoke, or bedrooms where people can spend lots of time.” Q: Where is the best place to put a portable air purifier? “When determining where to place a portable air purifier, you should consider the rooms in the house where you spend the most time,” Mendez says. “This may vary throughout the day, so, you may place the air purifier in a home office during the day and then move it to your bedroom while sleeping.” Q: Do portable air purifiers work for COVID and other airborne viruses? “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses in a home or confined space,” Mendez says. “However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.” Q: Can air purifiers help with allergies? “Yes. Air purifiers can be a useful tool for reducing exposure to common allergens such as pollen, mold, and pet dander,” Mendez says. McKeon agrees. “Air purifiers can play a key role in helping to manage allergies by removing airborne allergens, such as pet dander, pollen, mold, and dust mite allergen from the breathing zone,” McKeon says. Q: Is it OK to sleep with an air purifier running? Yes. It is generally safe to sleep with an air purifier running. You should always pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations for information on how long to run your purifier and where to place it,” Mendez says. “When properly used, an air purifier can help improve the air quality where you sleep.” Final thoughts on the best portable air purifiers Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier Best design: Smartmi Air Purifier Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier An air purifier can only be beneficial to you if it’s in the same room where you’re residing. The best portable air purifiers can be easily transported from one room or area to the next, and some can even be placed in your backpack or vehicle’s cup holder and transported to the office or taken on trips. Factors to consider include filtration, room size, CADR, and preferences such as smart features. The right portable air purifier can help to filter your air—wherever you are. The post The best portable air purifiers for 2025 appeared first on Popular Science.

“Portable air purifiers can help improve your home’s indoor air quality by actively reducing indoor particulate matter and airborne allergens,” says Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd. Since air purifiers are designed to clean the air in one room or area effectively, portability is essential if you only have one air purifier. “You’ll want it in the living room when you’re in that room and in the bedroom when you’re there,” McKeon explains.

You may also want to take an air purifier—like our best overall, the TruSens Air Purifier—with you to work or when you’re visiting environments that can trigger allergies. The best portable air purifiers are not only easy to move, but they also have many of the same features (on a smaller scale) as larger models.

Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier
Best design: Smartmi Air Purifier
Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier
Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier

How we chose the best portable air purifiers

To compile this list of the best portable air purifiers, we conducted extensive research, contacted Dr. John McKeon and Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and did lots of first-hand testing. We wanted to provide a variety of choices, so the list is a mix of smallish, lightweight air purifiers with handles, and handheld air purifiers that can fit in a vehicle’s cup holder. We also considered peer recommendations and consumer reviews, the clean air delivery rate (CADR), recommended room sizes, filtration, and noise levels.

The best portable air purifiers: Reviews & Recommendations

As a general rule, the CADR is one of the most critical factors. However, if you need a portable air purifier, the CADR doesn’t really matter if the air purifier is too big and bulky to transport as needed. Some of our articles, like the best smart air purifiers, and the best air purifiers for asthma, include some models with a CADR as high as the 400 to 600 range, which is exceptionally high, considering the average “good” air purifier has a CADR in the 200 range. However, the air purifiers with the highest CADR tend to be big and bulky, so they’re not conducive to moving. So, most of the air purifiers on this list have a good CADR (when that information is available), but keep in mind that, as a general rule, a smaller air purifier isn’t going to deliver the same power as a much larger model.

McKeon also says it is important to remember that an air purifier is only one part of a comprehensive approach to improving indoor air quality. “It’s most effective when used in conjunction with other strategies, such as regular cleaning, proper ventilation, and effective source control of pollutants,” he says. But you’re here to improve your environment with the best portable air purifiers, so read on.

Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier

Cylindrical gray TruSens portable air purifier sitting on a kitchen counter — Terri Williams

Pros

Stylish design
Handle makes it easy to transport
UV, Carbon, and HEPA filtration
Three fan speeds

Cons

No auto mode

Specs

Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 17 inches
Weight: 8.81 pounds
Recommended coverage area: Up to 443 sq. ft.
CADR: N/A
Noise level: 30 – 65 dB

I’ve had the TrueSens Small Air Purifier for years, and it’s like an old friend I can always rely on. I have smoking neighbors and tend to use larger, more powerful air purifiers in my living space. However, I keep the TruSens Small Air Purifier downstairs in my garage, which doesn’t get as much smoke—but still a fair amount, and also experiences a variety of other smells. The air purifier does an excellent job of removing those odors and smells.

It has a three-part filtration process that includes a HEPA Type filter, a carbon filter, and a UV-C light (which I never use—it can be turned on and off). The air purifier traps dust, pet dander, smoke, and other allergen, and the bi-directional airflow quickly delivers fresh air. The air purifier has three fan speeds (including a Turbo option), providing options for letting me control the airflow and noise level. The touch controls on the top are easy to operate, and the display panel reveals the speed and lets me know when the filters need to be replaced.

This is our top choice because it has an excellent price, is easy to transport, and is quite effective for the scenarios in which most people would use an air purifier. It also has a sleek and space-saving design and is lightweight enough to grab by the handle and move from room to room or even toss in your car and carry to work or other locations. TruSens also makes this air purifier in medium and large sizes, and those models include additional features, like real-time air monitoring, washable pre-filter, timer, and additional fan speeds.

Best design: Smartmi P1 Air Purifier

Cylindrical gray Smartmi portable air purifier sitting on a kitchen counter — Terri Williams

Pros

App
Voice control
Dual-laser particle sensor
Leather strap
Choice of filter

Cons

Have to turn it upside down to replace the filter

Specs

Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 17 inches
Weight: 3 kg
Recommended coverage area: 180 to 320 sq. ft.
CADR: 250
Noise level: 19 – 49 dB

At first glance, the Smartmi P1 Air Purifier looks like a knockoff of the Molecule Air Mini+ air purifier, which also has a leather strap. However, the Molecule Air Mini (which costs twice as much) only has a small leather strap on the side (with space for one or two fingers), whereas the Smartmi P1 has a stylish leather strap across the entire top. I’ve tested the Molecle, and the Smartmi strap feels much sturdier and doesn’t put all the weight on one or two fingers.

The Smarti has a great design overall and is certainly one of the best-looking air purifiers on the market, But that’s not the only reason it gets our best design award. The Smartmi P1 also offers a choice of 2 filter types. The Pollen filter is a good choice for those who suffer from seasonal allergies. There’s also a Pet Filter that’s helpful if you have furry friends in your home. Both filters contain a True HEPA filter, preliminary filter for large particles, and carbon/inner filter, and can remove dust, smoke, pet dander, and other allergens. The touch controls and LCD monitor are on the top and include a dual PM 2.5/PM 10 particle sensor to capture both small and large particles in the air. The air purifier has a timer as well. Since it’s a smart air purifier, I can control it via smartphone or voice control.

Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier

Cylindrical black Pure Enrichment portable air purifier sitting on a kitchen counter — Terri Williams

Pros

Fits in vehicle cup tray
Several color choices
Rechargeable battery
Three fan speeds
Sits horizontally or vertically

Cons

Only for a personal bubble

Specs

Dimensions: 3.3 x 8.5 x 2.7 inches
Weight: 0.6 ounces
Recommended coverage area: 54 sq. ft.
CADR: N/A
Noise level: Up to 50 dB

If it’s possible for an air purifier to be fun, the Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier certainly is. It’s about the size of a 12-ounce soft drink and fits in my car’s cup holder. It’s also small enough to toss in my handbag or suitcase. When traveling, this air purifier allows me to purify the air when I’m in a hotel room or staying with family members or friends. And the fact that it’s battery-operated means I can use it literally everywhere.

Although it’s small, the PureZone Mini works well. It has a dual HEPA filter that also includes an activated charcoal filter. The device has three fan speeds, but you must remember that the higher the speed, the quicker the battery runs out and needs to be recharged. The air purifier filters everything from dust to smoke to pollen and pet dander. One of my favorite features is the adjustable handle. This allows me to stand the device upright or tilt it on the side so it can be used vertically or horizontally. And when it’s hot, the air purifier also doubles as a small fan, providing both purified and cool air.

Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier

Rectangular black and grey Coway portable air purifier sitting on a kitchen counter — Terri Williams

Pros

Smartphone control
Lightweight
Voice control
Real-time air-quality indicator

Cons

Bulky compared to others on this list

Specs

Dimensions: 18.3 x 9.6 x 16.8 inches
Weight: 12.3 pounds
Recommended coverage area: up to 1,575 sq ft
CADR: 221
Noise level: 24 – 53 dB

While not necessarily an expensive air purifier (we’ve tested models that cost well over $1,000), the Coway AP-1512HH Air Purifier is the most expensive model on this list, which is why it’s our splurge choice. It can cover up to 1,474 sq. ft., and we think this model is a good portable choice for large rooms. The air purifier is easy to operate and the filtration system includes a pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and a Fresh Starter deodorizer filter, so it can capture both larger and smaller particles while also removing cooking and tobacco odors.

The user-friendly control panel on the top lets me view real-time air-quality data, and the color-coded indicators turn blue when the air is fresh and clean, yellow when it’s problematic, and red when the air is unhealthy. There are five speeds, and when the air purifier is in auto mode, the fan will automatically increase or decrease depending on the air-quality indicator data. I can also set the timer for 1, 4, or 8 hours. The filter replacement light (one for the HEPA filter, one for the deodorizer filter) comes on when one of the filters needs to be replaced.

What to consider when buying the best portable air purifiers

There are several factors to consider when deciding which portable air purifier is right for you. When writing this guide, these are the factors we considered most important.

Room Size

An air purifier may be effective in a smaller room but less effective in a larger room. That’s why we included the recommended room size for each air purifier on our list. Ensure you’re not expecting the air purifier to clean more space than it’s recommended to handle.

CADR

For air-cleaning effectiveness, McKeon says selecting the correct Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for the room size is vital. “This is an important metric, which indicates the volume of filtered air an air cleaner can deliver, with separate scores when the device was tested with smoke, pollen, and dust challenges.”

(Note: Some manufacturers combine the scores for smoke, pollen, and dust and just list the average CADR rating of the three tests.)

“A higher CADR means the device can filter more particles,” McKeon says.

Filtration

Filtration is another important factor to continue, and the presence of a HEPA filter is always a good sign. “HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air,” Mendez explains. “These filters are media-based, meaning that they are physical filters, which capture particles as air passes through them, and HEPA filters are designed to filter out at least 99.7 percent of particles of 0.3 microns or larger diameter,” he says.

Smart

Smart features can make the air purifier easier to operate. For example, some models have an app, so you can control it using your smartphone and even issue voice commands. Other smart features include the ability to auto-detect the level of air purification needed and adjust the airflow accordingly.

FAQS

Q: How do air purifiers work?

“Portable air purifiers function similarly to whole-home systems, but they are designed to clean the air in a specific room,” McKeon says. “They draw air in and pass it through specific filters to remove airborne pollutants, and. they’re often used to address specific areas, like rooms most affected by smoke, or bedrooms where people can spend lots of time.”

Q: Where is the best place to put a portable air purifier?

“When determining where to place a portable air purifier, you should consider the rooms in the house where you spend the most time,” Mendez says. “This may vary throughout the day, so, you may place the air purifier in a home office during the day and then move it to your bedroom while sleeping.”

Q: Do portable air purifiers work for COVID and other airborne viruses?

“According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses in a home or confined space,” Mendez says. “However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19.”

Q: Can air purifiers help with allergies?

“Yes. Air purifiers can be a useful tool for reducing exposure to common allergens such as pollen, mold, and pet dander,” Mendez says.

McKeon agrees. “Air purifiers can play a key role in helping to manage allergies by removing airborne allergens, such as pet dander, pollen, mold, and dust mite allergen from the breathing zone,” McKeon says.

Q: Is it OK to sleep with an air purifier running?

Yes. It is generally safe to sleep with an air purifier running. You should always pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations for information on how long to run your purifier and where to place it,” Mendez says. “When properly used, an air purifier can help improve the air quality where you sleep.”

Final thoughts on the best portable air purifiers

Best overall: TruSens Air Purifier
Best design: Smartmi Air Purifier
Best value: Pure Enrichment PureZone Mini Portable Air Purifier
Best splurge: Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Air Purifier

An air purifier can only be beneficial to you if it’s in the same room where you’re residing. The best portable air purifiers can be easily transported from one room or area to the next, and some can even be placed in your backpack or vehicle’s cup holder and transported to the office or taken on trips. Factors to consider include filtration, room size, CADR, and preferences such as smart features. The right portable air purifier can help to filter your air—wherever you are.

The post The best portable air purifiers for 2025 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Autism rates are rising, but RFK, Jr. is wrong about the reasons. Here’s what the science says

RFK, Jr. Is Wrong about Cause of Rising Autism Rates, Scientists SayAutism rates are rising, but RFK, Jr. is wrong about the reasons. Here’s what the science saysBy Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna BrynerResearch suggests that autism is between 60 and 90 percent heritable. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, struck an alarmist tone about new findings that one in 31 eight-year-olds in the U.S. have an autism diagnosis at a press conference today.Kennedy called autism a “tragedy” that “destroys families.” And his statements also included assertations that autism experts say are out of date, such as the idea that autistic kids “regress” around their second birthday. In fact, while autism is often diagnosed at this age, researchers have found brain differences as early as six months of age among kids who were later diagnosed as autistic. Some studies have also found subtle differences in motor behavior and social behavior, such as looking less at people than typically developing kids do, in babies who were later diagnosed as autistic.But Kennedy’s greatest breach with the scientific consensus was likely his insistence that autism is an “epidemic” that must be caused by an environmental exposure that has been introduced within the past several decades. In fact, researchers say, autism is between 60 and 90 percent heritable. And in up to 40% percent of cases, doctors can find a specific set of genetic mutations to explain the condition. While there are environmental risk factors for autism, such as air pollution, rising rates are mostly attributable to broadened diagnostic categories and more comprehensive screening.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.“The problem from a science communication standpoint is that the causes are complex,” says Annette Estes, director of the University of Washington Autism Center. “It’s not like Down syndrome, where we can say, ‘There is one genetic change that leads to this syndrome, and everybody with this syndrome has these characteristics.’ Even though the amount we’ve learned is unbelievable, it’s also not a simple story.”The new finding that one in 31 kids born in 2014 are autistic comes from a newly released report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM), which started tracking data in 2000. That year one in 150 eight-year-olds were diagnosed as autistic, and the number has been steadily rising since. Kennedy also cited numbers from the 1970s and 1980s that showed rates of autism that represented around one to three in 10,000 people.This period saw a number of changes in how autism was diagnosed, however. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which has lays out criteria for psychiatric diagnoses in the U.S., called autism “schizophrenic reaction, childhood type” in its first edition and subsequently referred to it as “schizophrenia, childhood type” until 1980, when the diagnosis changed to “infantile autism.” The criteria then focused on external symptoms such as delays in language development, resistance to change and attachments to objects. In 1987 the criteria widened and encompassed three categories related to social interaction, communication and restrictions in activities. In 1994 the diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder appeared, only to be subsumed into a broadened “autism spectrum disorder” in the DSM’s fifth edition (DSM-5) in 2013. That year was also the first in which autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be diagnosed in the same child at the same time, Estes says. Prior to that time, an ADHD diagnosis would preclude a child from getting an autism diagnosis, even though researchers currently estimate that half or more of autistic people also have ADHD.Kennedy downplayed diagnostic shift as a minor explanation for the increase in autism cases, but researchers have found that changes in diagnosis probably explain a majority of the increase. A 2015 study on children diagnosed as autistic in Denmark, for example, found that 60 percent of the rise of autism among children born between 1980 and 1991 was caused by changes in diagnostic criteria and reporting practices. Another 2015 study examined students in U.S. special education programs between 2000 and 2010. The number of autistic children who enrolled in special education tripled from 93,624 to 419,647. In the same time frame, however, the number of children labeled as having an “intellectual disability” declined from 637,270 to 457,478. The shift of children from one diagnostic category to another explained two thirds of the increase in autism in this population, researchers say.Another piece of evidence for changes in diagnosis explaining a large difference in the prevalence of autism is that autism rates vary widely from state to state in the U.S. The state with the highest prevalence of autism is California, with a rate of 53.1 per 1,000 eight-year-olds, while the one with the lowest prevalence is Texas, with a rate of 9.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds. That’s a huge difference. But according to the CDC’s own report, it’s likely linked to California’s intense push for early screening and assessment.“Because of all the hard work that everyone has done to come up with good approaches for supporting and teaching autistic kids, there are benefits of getting an autism diagnosis,” Estes says. “So people seek it out. And that, coupled with less stigma around autism, means more people want to understand their kids in this way.”Some portion of the rise in autism rates may be unrelated to better diagnosis. The likelihood of having an autistic child increases for older parents, and there is a societal trend toward delaying childbirth across developed countries. Children who are born prematurely are also at a heightened risk of autism, and improved neonatal care means many more of these children are surviving to childhood and beyond.There are also known environmental risk factors for autism. Among pregnant people, for example, infections that are accompanied by fever in the second trimester raise the risk of autism for their eventual baby. So does exposure to fine particulate matter pollution in the third trimester of development and the first year of life, according to a 2019 study. Laura McGuinn, an epidemiologist at the University of Chicago, who led a study that made the latter finding, says that particulate matter is inflammatory, and work is ongoing to understand how it might trigger the maternal immune system and potentially affect brain development.As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy promised “some” of the answers to the causes of autism by September. But his “start from scratch” approach largely ignores research that has already been done. For example, Kennedy told reporters the initiative would look at ultrasounds during pregnancy as a possible risk factor. But a comprehensive multisite study of more than 1,500 pregnancies that found no link between autism and ultrasound use was published as recently as 2023. And scientists definitively ruled out the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as a cause of autism a decade ago (and again in 2019). In addition, the primary study that had suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism was found to have falsified data. Despite this, federal officials said in March that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct a study to investigate a link between vaccines and autism. The study will be led by a vaccine skeptic who was previously disciplined for practicing medicine without a license.Work on untangling the complex environmental risk factors was ongoing prior to Kennedy’s tenure, including at federal agencies such as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which is developing a Web-based tool to help scientists make sense of the existing data on environmental studies and autism.“As scientists, I wish there was a way we could talk about this and really explain how amazing it is, how much taxpayer money has gone to creating this understanding of this complex developmental disorder and how to help kids and parents,” Estes says. “This idea that there needs to be one single cause, and it needs to be really scary—it’s just really taking us backward.”

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Length of a Day on Uranus Revised, Pour Height Influences Coffee Quality, and Plastics Recycling Falls Short.

A fluid study homes in on the best method to make a cup of coffee, scientists use the Hubble Telescope to reassess the length of a day on Uranus, and we discuss more of the latest in science in this news roundup.

A Long Day on Uranus, a Better Method of Making Coffee and Disputed Dino DeclineA fluid study homes in on the best method to make a cup of coffee, scientists use the Hubble Telescope to reassess the length of a day on Uranus, and we discuss more of the latest in science in this news roundup.By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanRachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Let’s catch up on some of the science news you might have missed last week.We’ll ease into things with a new study on a subject that’s bound to perk you up: coffee. Up until now the best way to learn more than you ever wanted to know about pour-over coffee was to ask literally any guy at a party in Brooklyn. But a study published last week in the journal Physics of Fluids brings some actual science into debates over how to brew the perfect pot of joe.Using transparent silica gel particles in place of coffee grounds, researchers captured high-speed footage showing exactly how water flows through a pour-over setup under different conditions. They determined that the best way to brew a strong cup of coffee was to maximize the contact time between water and coffee grounds while also allowing for plenty of mixing so as much coffee as possible was extracted. The team says the key is to pour slowly—to maximize contact—and from a greater height to increase the water velocity. A slim stream of water from a gooseneck kettle can help optimize this process. As those dudes from parties in Brooklyn have probably already told you. If you get it right, the researchers say, you can actually get a stronger cup of coffee using a smaller quantity of grounds. They recommend experimenting by subtracting a small amount from your usual bean count—maybe a couple of grams per serving—and then trying cups brewed at different pour heights until you find a strength you like.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Now that we’re all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, let’s move on to another troubling story of cuts in federal funding for research. Last Tuesday the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Trump administration will pull around $4 million in research grants for climate change-related projects from Princeton University. According to a press release from the Department of Commerce, the projects funded by these grants “are no longer aligned with the program objectives” of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and “are no longer in keeping with the Trump Administration’s priorities.”One of the targeted projects focuses on how water supplies might fluctuate as global warming progresses. The Department of Commerce stated that “using federal funds to perpetuate these narratives does not align with the priorities of this Administration,” which is, frankly, chilling language to use when talking about climate change research. The press release also accused some of the slashed projects of increasing “climate anxiety,” which is a phrase that’s increasingly being used to cast folks’ concerns over very real evidence about the climate crisis in a hysterical light.Speaking of environmental threats: a study published last Thursday in the journal Communications Earth & Environment found that less than 10 percent of the plastic made worldwide in 2022 contained recycled materials. The world produced more than 400 million tons of plastic that year. And some estimates say that amount will more than double by 2050. The new study also found that just around 28 percent of all plastic waste made it to the sorting stage and only half of that plastic was actually recycled. While China had the highest plastic consumption overall in 2022, the U.S. had the highest amount of usage per person, according to the researchers. On average, each individual in the U.S. consumed about 476 pounds [216 kilograms] of plastic that year.Now, obviously plastic usage is a massive, complex, systemic problem that high income countries around the world need to address, so this isn’t me trying to make you feel guilty about your ever-growing pile of old takeout containers. But if you’ve been looking for something to motivate you to start making some slightly less convenient choices in the name of using less plastic—carrying reusable straws and silverware with you, finding a local bulk grocery store that lets you use your own containers—maybe these new findings can fire you up to make a change.Now let’s check in with a cosmic neighbor. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a galaxy not far from our own, and a new study published in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series suggests that things might be getting a little hectic over there. Within the SMC, researchers tracked the motion of roughly 7,000 stars, each one more than eight times the mass of our own sun. The team found that the stars were moving in different directions on the galaxy’s respective sides. The scientists think that the gravitational pull of the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud—which, to state the obvious, is the bigger of the two galaxies—might be pulling the SMC apart. The researchers say that studying how the SMC and LMC interact with both each other and with the Milky Way will help us understand how galaxies form and behave.In other space news, it turns out that a day on Uranus lasts slightly longer than we thought. A study published last Monday in Nature Astronomyused data from the Hubble Space Telescope to estimate the ice giant’s rotation rate with unprecedented accuracy. Our prior estimate of 17 hours, 14 minutes and 24 seconds came from Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby of Uranus. That figure relied on measurements of the planet’s magnetic field and radio signals emitted by its auroras. For a better estimate scientists used more than a decade’s worth of Hubble data to track the movement of Uranus’s auroras, which helped them zero in on the actual location of the planet’s magnetic poles. The researchers’ findings added a whopping 28 seconds to Uranus’s previously estimated rotational period. And hey, every second on Uranus is precious.We’ll wrap up with some new findings on the demise of the dinosaurs. Some earlier research has suggested that dinosaurs were already on the outs before that infamous asteroid struck the killing blow. But a study published last Tuesday in Current Biologyargues that the dinosaurs were doing just fine before that pesky space rock came along, thank you very much.Researchers analyzed the North American fossil record for the 18 million years preceding the mass extinction event in question—about 8,000 fossil specimens in total. That fossil record does indeed seem to show that dinosaur populations started declining millions of years before the asteroid hit. But the new study suggests it’s not the dinosaurs themselves that declined but simply their mark on the fossil record. The researchers argue that geological changes made dinosaur fossils less likely to be preserved in places where archaeologists could one day access them. It’s certainly not the end of this debate, but it’s now a little more plausible to imagine that, had things gone down a little differently, we might still have dinosaurs roaming the Earth today—other than birds, of course.That’s all for this week’s news roundup. We’ll be back on Wednesday to talk about a trendy disinfectant that sounds almost too good to be true: hypochlorous acid. Tune in to get the full scoop on this so-called miracle molecule.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. Have a great week!

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As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to Fester

Trump administration plans to destroy EPA science will leave the air we breathe and the water we drink more polluted

As Happened in Texas, Ignoring EPA Science Will Allow Pollution and Cancer to FesterTrump administration plans to destroy EPA science will leave the air we breathe and the water we drink more pollutedBy Jennifer Sass Cows graze near the Oak Grove Power Plant in Robertson County, Texas, subject to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rules to reduce carbon emissions and mercury pollution under the Biden administration. Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesI’ve spent my scientific career asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set stronger, lawful public-health protections from toxic chemicals. I do not always agree with EPA’s final decisions, but I respect the scientific process and am always grateful for the agency’s scientists—our public brain trust.In one of the most dangerous acts against facts and science, the Trump administration announced in March that it will shutter the EPA’s independent research office. This will cut more than 1,000 scientists and technical experts who help the agency determine if, for example, a chemical poses a cancer risk, or a factory is polluting a nearby river. At the same time, Trump’s EPA has installed former oil and chemical industry lobbyists to write the rules to regulate those industries.There’s a lot of empty talk about making us healthy coming from this administration. Future generations will be even worse off.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.What is left unsaid by the Trump EPA is this: eliminating scientists from the EPA is kneecapping environmental safeguards. Every major environmental statute—the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Superfund law governing cleanup requirements—relies on EPA scientists to calculate how hazardous chemicals are, how people and wildlife may be exposed and what health and ecological harms may occur. Questions critical to environmental and community protections are researched, such as: Will exposure to this chemical in my workplace increase my risk of breast cancer? Is the air quality from power plant emissions safe for the neighboring community? What is an acceptable standard for PFAS forever chemicals in our drinking water?A drone view of the Sulphur Bank mercury mine Superfund site in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty ImagesInstead, the Trump team is yet again swinging its chainsaw, this time against independent science to favor polluting industries. Consequent to gutting scientific inquiries by the government and decimating academic scientific research, only one type of scientific research will be available for setting environmental standards: polluter research. And that’s trouble. The public is right to distrust polluter-sponsored science; see “tobacco science” and the myth of safe nuclear waste for starters.Just ask Texas. The state of Texas’s vigorous defense of ethylene oxide, a well-known carcinogen, provides an ongoing example of the perils to public health from science done by a polluting industry with a financial interest in the outcome and the support of a state government hell-bent on rewriting scientific facts about a cancer-causing chemical.In 2016, after nearly 10 years of research and analysis, the EPA determined ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used in facilities in Texas and Louisiana to sterilize medical equipment, was linked to cancer—with a 30 times greater risk than the EPA had previously found. EPA’s new risk evaluation included a study of over 300 breast cancer cases in women working with the chemical and adjusted for added risks where children may be exposed.EPA’s report was finalized after multiple internal reviews, and reviews from other government agencies, with public input including from Texas and the industry on many occasions. There were also two rounds of public review by the agency’s science advisory board.Rather than accept that finding, the chemical industry and Texas’ regulatory agency issued its own alternative report in 2020 on ethylene oxide. In stark contrast with EPA’s evaluation, the Texas assessment is a contractor product sponsored by the ethylene oxide industry with limited public review. It fails to account for the risk of breast cancer and could allow over 3,000 times more air pollution to be emitted, which would drastically increase illnesses and deaths—including from cancer—for workers and nearby communities.In an effort to compel EPA to adopt Texas’ cancer-friendly risk estimates nationally, Texas requested a review of its findings by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the nation’s top source of high-quality trusted science and health advice.In March, the National Academies issued its final report, rebuking the foundations of the Texas analysis, finding it repeatedly deviated from best scientific practices and failed to offer a “credible basis” for its findings, specifically its determination that ethylene oxide was not associated with breast cancer.Texas’ efforts to rewrite the history of cancer-causing ethylene oxide as a benign, no-big-deal chemical, is just the beginning of the toxic mayhem and misinformation we can expect from the Trump team to support the financial interests of toxic polluters.Erasing cancer evidence, fudging data, and pretending wild claims are the truth will become the norm, undermining every environmental law and regulation in the nation, and compromising our right to health.All of us will suffer for it.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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MIT affiliates named 2024 AAAS Fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science recognizes six current affiliates and 27 additional MIT alumni for their efforts to advance science and related fields.

Six current MIT affiliates and 27 additional MIT alumni have been elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The 2024 class of AAAS Fellows includes 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators, spanning all 24 of AAAS disciplinary sections, who are being recognized for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87, life member of the MIT Corporation, was named a AAAS Fellow “for outstanding leadership in biotechnology, in particular mRNA therapeutics, and for advocacy for recognition of the contributions of immigrants to economic and scientific progress.” Afeyan is the founder and CEO of the venture creation company Flagship Pioneering, which has built over 100 science-based companies to transform human health and sustainability. He is also the chairman and cofounder of Moderna, which was awarded a 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation for the development of its Covid-19 vaccine. Afeyan earned his PhD in biochemical engineering at MIT in 1987 and was a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management for 16 years, starting in 2000. Among other activities at the Institute, he serves on the advisory board of the MIT Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning and delivered MIT’s 2024 Commencement address.Cynthia Breazeal SM ’93, ScD ’00 is a professor of media arts and sciences at MIT, where she founded and directs the Personal Robots group in the MIT Media Lab. At MIT Open Learning, she is the MIT dean for digital learning, and in this role, she leverages her experience in emerging digital technologies and business, research, and strategic initiatives to lead Open Learning’s business and research and engagement units. She is also the director of the MIT-wide Initiative on Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (raise.mit.edu). She co-founded the consumer social robotics company, Jibo, Inc., where she served as chief scientist and chief experience officer. She is recognized for distinguished contributions in the field of artificial intelligence education, particularly around the use of social robots, and learning at scale.Alan Edelman PhD ’89 is an applied mathematics professor for the Department of Mathematics and leads the Applied Computing Group of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the MIT Julia Lab. He is recognized as a 2024 AAAS fellow for distinguished contributions and outstanding breakthroughs in high-performance computing, linear algebra, random matrix theory, computational science, and in particular for the development of the Julia programming language. Edelman has been elected a fellow of five different societies — AMS, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and AAAS.Robert B. Millard '73, life member and chairman emeritus of the MIT Corporation, was named a 2024 AAAS Fellow for outstanding contributions to the scientific community and U.S. higher education "through exemplary leadership service to such storied institutions as AAAS and MIT." Millard joined the MIT Corporation as a term member in 2003 and was elected a life member in 2013. He served on the Executive Committee for 10 years and on the Investment Company Management Board for seven years, including serving as its chair for the last four years. He served as a member of the Visiting Committees for Physics, Architecture, and Chemistry. In addition, Millard has served as a member of the Linguistics and Philosophy Visiting Committee, the Corporation Development Committee, and the Advisory Council for the Council for the Arts. In 2011, Millard received the Bronze Beaver Award, the MIT Alumni Association’s highest honor for distinguished service.Jagadeesh S. Moodera is a senior research scientist in the Department of Physics. His research interests include experimental condensed matter physics: spin polarized tunneling and nano spintronics; exchange coupled ferromagnet/superconductor interface, triplet pairing, nonreciprocal current transport and memory toward superconducting spintronics for quantum technology; and topological insulators/superconductors, including Majorana bound state studies in metallic systems. His research in the area of spin polarized tunneling led to a breakthrough in observing tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) at room temperature in magnetic tunnel junctions. This resulted in a huge surge in this area of research, currently one of the most active areas. TMR effect is used in all ultra-high-density magnetic data storage, as well as for the development of nonvolatile magnetic random access memory (MRAM) that is currently being advanced further in various electronic devices, including for neuromorphic computing architecture. For his leadership in spintronics, the discovery of TMR, the development of MRAM, and for mentoring the next generation of scientists, Moodera was named a 2024 AAAS Fellow. For his TMR discovery he was awarded the Oliver Buckley Prize (2009) by the American Physical Society (APS), named an American National Science Foundation Competitiveness and Innovation Fellow (2008-10), won IBM and TDK Research Awards (1995-98), and became a Fellow of APS (2000).Noelle Eckley Selin, the director of the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy and a professor in the Institute for Data, Systems and Society and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, uses atmospheric chemistry modeling to inform decision-making strategies on air pollution, climate change, and toxic substances, including mercury and persistent organic pollutants. She has also published articles and book chapters on the interactions between science and policy in international environmental negotiations, in particular focusing on global efforts to regulate hazardous chemicals and persistent organic pollutants. She is named a 2024 AAAS Fellow for world-recognized leadership in modeling the impacts of air pollution on human health, in assessing the costs and benefits of related policies, and in integrating technology dynamics into sustainability science.Additional MIT alumni honored as 2024 AAAS Fellows include: Danah Boyd SM ’02 (Media Arts and Sciences); Michael S. Branicky ScD ’95 (EECS); Jane P. Chang SM ’95, PhD ’98 (Chemical Engineering); Yong Chen SM '99 (Mathematics); Roger Nelson Clark PhD '80 (EAPS); Mark Stephen Daskin ’74, PhD ’78 (Civil and Environmental Engineering); Marla L. Dowell PhD ’94 (Physics); Raissa M. D’Souza PhD ’99 (Physics); Cynthia Joan Ebinger SM '86, PhD '88 (EAPS/WHOI); Thomas Henry Epps III ’98, SM ’99 (Chemical Engineering); Daniel Goldman ’94 (Physics); Kenneth Keiler PhD ’96 (Biology); Karen Jean Meech PhD '87 (EAPS); Christopher B. Murray PhD ’95 (Chemistry); Jason Nieh '89 (EECS); William Nordhaus PhD ’67 (Economics); Milica Radisic PhD '04 (Chemical Engineering); James G. Rheinwald PhD ’76 (Biology); Adina L. Roskies PhD ’04 (Philosophy); Linda Rothschild (Preiss) PhD '70 (Mathematics); Soni Lacefield Shimoda PhD '03 (Biology); Dawn Y. Sumner PhD ’95 (EAPS); Tina L. Tootle PhD ’04 (Biology); Karen Viskupic PhD '03 (EAPS); Brant M. Weinstein PhD ’92 (Biology); Chee Wei Wong SM ’01, ScD ’03 (Mechanical Engineering; and Fei Xu PhD ’95 (Brain and Cognitive Sciences).

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STOPPING THE NEXT PANDEMIC

Stopping the next pandemic is a new challenge to the most prominent scientists. Their field studies around the world are showing that our health as humans depends on animal and environmental health. Diseases that occur in the remotest places are now our concern. We live in a connected world. We will have to preserve the environment to prevent future pandemics.

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The Connection Between Bats and Coronavirus: Wildlife is not to blame

What exactly is the connection between bats and coronavirus? And how has sheltering-in-place disrupted field research in California and beyond? State and local governments have set restrictions on bat research and rescue in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Winifred Frick, chief scientist of Bat Conservation International, describes how the new restrictions have affected conservation efforts.

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Unacceptable Risk: Dr. Margaret Kripke on Cancer and the Environment

Unacceptable Risk tells the story of a prominent cancer researcher who rethinks her assumptions about the causes of cancer and the true burden of environmentally-induced cancers.

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An exploration of what happens when whole communities get exposed to toxins: Naled sprayed on Miami residents to fight Zika virus, Agent Orange sprayed on the Vietcong, and release of GMO mosquitoes in Brazil with pyriproxyfen added to drinking water to fight dengue. What are the results for nature and humanity? We meet Agent Orange survivors at Vietnamese detoxification and rehabilitation centers, parents of babies born with microcephaly from Zika virus, and Florida residents dealing with efforts to kill mosquitoes carrying Zika virus. Perspectives of doctors, scientists, and politicians are balanced with voices of ordinary citizens and victims to explore concerns about the potential impact on current and future generations.

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