Since the last time this was posted, it also doesn’t account for potential mold build up due to the increase of moisture without the dryness you get from heating. I know this first hand because I’ve tried doing this before the article was written. It’s been posted several times on HN already
There are also tropical people living in somewhat less than tropical climates too. They have shorter nostrils. My girlfriend is one of them and has especially short nostrils. Whenever the air gets cold she gets terrible nosebleeds, headaches and more. Outside, she has to put a scarf over her nose.
My long narrow nose is great at conditioning the air, but conversely I can't breathe through my nose when I exercise...
Your nostril length is absolutely relevant. Maybe not by the time it gets to your lungs, but it for sure causes problems for the sensitive tissues inside the nose.
"Such a nose is unsuited for cold countries as it permits masses of cold air to flood the air passages and irritate the lining membrane, so that the nose must be large and have much warming surface, and the nostrils therefore are slender slits to admit air in thin ribbons easily warmed."