The Science of Indoor Air

The air you breathe
is invisible.
Its effects are not.

You'll breathe 2,300 gallons of air today.

Most of it indoors.

Almost none of it monitored.

The Invisible Variable

We optimize everything
except what we breathe.

We track our steps.
Our sleep. Our heart rate.

But the air we move through
remains entirely unmonitored.

90% of your life
spent indoors
2–5× more polluted
than outdoor air ¹

Carbon Dioxide

CO₂ is not just a byproduct.
It is a signal your body
cannot ignore.

Your brainstem monitors CO₂
every second you're alive.

At 1,000 ppm — a typical bedroom by midnight —

21% drop in cognitive
function ²

At 1,000 ppm — a typical bedroom by midnight —

21% drop in cognitive
function ²

At 2,500 ppm — a stuffy room with windows sealed —

50% drop in decision-
making ability ²

At 2,500 ppm — a stuffy room with windows sealed —

50% drop in decision-
making ability ²

A single sleeping adult
raises bedroom CO₂ from 450 ppm
to above 1,500 ppm
within 90 minutes.

CO₂ & Sleep

What happens to your sleep
while the air in your bedroom
accumulates.

Bedroom CO₂ is a signal
of how well your room
is ventilated.

Lower overnight CO₂ has been associated
with deeper sleep, better sleep quality,
and improved next-day performance. ⁵

Elevated CO₂ during sleep
may be one of the most prevalent
and least understood contributors
to non-restorative sleep.

"Present in most bedrooms.
Detectable with a $200 sensor.
Almost never discussed."

Beyond CO₂

CO₂ is the loudest signal.
But it isn't
the only one.

Temperature 18–19°C optimal for sleep onset
Humidity 40–60% comfort & health band
PM2.5 3.5× indoor vs. outdoor avg
Temperature 18–19°C optimal for sleep onset
Humidity 40–60% comfort & health band
PM2.5 3.5× indoor vs. outdoor avg
Temperature 18–19°C optimal for sleep onset
Humidity 40–60% comfort & health band
PM2.5 3.5× indoor vs. outdoor avg

A heat wave in Boston, 2018. Students without AC —

13% slower reaction
times ⁹

A heat wave in Boston, 2018. Students without AC —

13% slower reaction
times ⁹

Highest PM2.5 exposure carries roughly —

50% greater odds of
poor sleep efficiency ¹¹

Highest PM2.5 exposure carries roughly —

50% greater odds of
poor sleep efficiency ¹¹

Plants

Humans have lived with plants
for ten thousand years.
The science is finally
catching up.

In 1984, Roger Ulrich measured
what a view of trees did
to post-surgical patients.

Shorter hospital stays.
Less pain medication.
Just a window. ³

Plants under adequate light
actively sequester CO₂
through photosynthesis —
measurably slowing accumulation.

"The presence of plants reduced
salivary cortisol and anxiety
within 5 minutes." ⁷

15% increase in wellbeing
with biophilic design

Aera by Monstera Labs

The first living object
designed around
what you breathe.

Solid hardwood. Full-spectrum light.
Continuous air sensing. Made in San Francisco.

Choose yours Try the simulator →