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What we can learn from the unique smell of wildfire smoke

NPR | By Adrian Ma,

Henry Larson, Adam Raney

Published July 18, 2026 at 2:20 PM PDT

NPR's Adrian Ma speaks with Derek Mallia, professor University of Utah's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, about why wildfire smoke in the northeast has a distinctive smell.

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Adrian Ma

Adrian Ma covers the economy and other "business-ish" as a co-host and reporter for NPR's daily economics podcast The Indicator from Planet Money. Have a question, story or tip you'd like him to look into? Here's how to get in touch.

Henry Larson

Adam Raney

What we can learn from the unique smell of wildfire smoke

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