31 min
60. Midgley's Leaded Gasoline Jack P Taylor's Political and Historical Curiosities
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- History
Thomas Midgley Jr. was undoubtedly a great inventor, yet he was far from a great man.
Midgley was recognised by J. R. McNeill, a pioneer of the study of environmental history, as having “had more impact on the atmosphere than any other single organism in Earth's history“.
Midgley's inventions have contributed significantly to the 400,000 deaths from lead in the USA each year - with more around the world. On top of this his invention of Chlorofluorocarbons have wrecked our atmosphere
In this I examine: Midgley's background, how he came to invent leaded gasoline, how the scientific and regulatory community reacted, and what Midgley did next.
Thomas Midgley Jr. was undoubtedly a great inventor, yet he was far from a great man.
Midgley was recognised by J. R. McNeill, a pioneer of the study of environmental history, as having “had more impact on the atmosphere than any other single organism in Earth's history“.
Midgley's inventions have contributed significantly to the 400,000 deaths from lead in the USA each year - with more around the world. On top of this his invention of Chlorofluorocarbons have wrecked our atmosphere
In this I examine: Midgley's background, how he came to invent leaded gasoline, how the scientific and regulatory community reacted, and what Midgley did next.
31 min