Meet the man who "had more impact on the atmosphere than any other single organism in earth history" -
Thomas Midgley, Jr. Midgley invented leaded gasoline in 1921 to
stop cars from knocking. In the process, he created a huge new industry, increased by 500 times the atmospheric lead levels, and
was part of a multi-decade coverup of lead's effects that put the tobacco industry to shame [note: article is both terrific and very long] and still
continues today. Just a few years later, he invented chlorofluorocarbons, and, with
a dramatic demonstration of their safety, usured in an era of
cheap air conditioning and social change, as well as
ozone depletion. In the end,
he was killed by one of his inventions, though it was neither lead nor CFCs that were responsible. He is sometimes
remembered fondly, he is more often
vilified.
posted by blahblahblah
on Oct 19, 2006 -
30 comments
