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A team of atmospheric chemists has moved closer to what's considered the "holy grail" of climate change science: the first-ever direct detections of biological particles within ice clouds. The team, led by Kimberly Prather and Kerri Pratt of the University of California at San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, sampled water droplet and ice crystal residues at high speeds while flying through clouds in the skies over Wyoming. Analysis of the ice crystals revealed that the particles that started their growth were made up almost entirely of either dust or biological material such as bacteria, fungal spores and plant material.

Scientist Live spoke with Kerri Pratt and asked her questions sent in by our readers.

Why is the detection of biological particles within ice clouds important and what does it tell us? (Jessica K., Manchester, UK)

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It's hard to imagine how you go about testing water and ice crystals while zooming through a cloud. Can you describe how you did it and what it was like? What kind of equipment did you use? (F. Lewis, Houston, USA)

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How do ice crystals form in clouds and what effects do they have on the weather? (Davide P., Bologna, Italy)

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Since you have determined that a portion of ice particles, which go on to form clouds and go on to influence weather, are formed by organic material such as bacteria, does this mean that microbes and germs make it rain? If so, do the germs come hurtling back down to earth in rain drops? (Anat M. Tel Aviv, Isreal)

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How does the organic material get all the way up there? (Jean B., Lyon, France)

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What's next for your research? (Anish U., London, UK)

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