Singing in the Rain…. Negative ions are good for us!

There’s more and more research indicating that negative ions in the air influence what happens inside our heads.
Derek Brockway (2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51157ep524o) in “How Rain Can Make You Happier and Healthier,” reports, for example, that “When rain splashes on the ground, some of the molecules that make up the air pick up an electron and become negatively charged ions. When we inhale them, it is thought they can help to relieve stress and even boost our energy levels. . . . Research is taking place into the effects of negative ions, but it is thought they may boost our mood, relieve stress and give us more energy.” Also, “There is also that unmistakable smell when it rains after a long period of dry weather. The earthy scent is called petrichor, from the Greek words petra, meaning ‘stone’, and ichor, meaning ‘the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods’. Petrichor includes a chemical called geosmin, which is made by bacteria in soil. Inhaling it in the air can have a calming effect.”