In elementary school, we learn that clouds form when water vapor from seas, oceans, and other bodies of water, the ground, and living things rises into the sky and condenses into a large mass of droplets suspended in the air. For simplicity, this explanation often omits the need for aerosols, suspended molecules that help with the condensation of clouds. Understanding the role of aerosols is critical, and it is done in a variety of ways. IFLScience visited CERN in Switzerland to speak to the people working on the Cosmics Leaving Outdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiment to find out more. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Scientists study the atmosphere directly, looking at gas composition and other properties. They can also c

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