Amine a minor setback for Svensmark

CERN has been doing some more tinkering with Svensmark's cosmoclimatology theory, trying to detect the effect of simulated galactic cosmic rays on cloud formation in the presence of various gases. The results are not altogether favourable for Svensmark, but it's also fair to say that the story is anything but over:

The CLOUD researchers made two key discoveries. Firstly, they found that minute concentrations of amine vapours combine with sulphuric acid to form aerosol particles at rates similar to those observed in the atmosphere. Then, using a pion beam from the CERN Proton Synchrotron, they found that ionising radiation such as the cosmic radiation that bombards the atmosphere from space has negligible influence on the formation rates of these particular aerosols.

However, the story of the cosmoclimatology theory is not over by any means:

This is the first time that atmospheric particle formation has been reproduced with complete knowledge of the participating molecules”, said Kirkby. “However our measurements leave open the possibility that the formation of aerosols in the atmosphere may also proceed with other vapours, for which the effect of cosmic rays may be different. This is an important step forward, but we still have a long way to go before we fully understand the processes of aerosol formation and their effects on clouds and climate.”