The Man Who Accidentally Killed The Most People In History
A scientist named Thomas Midgley Jr. created three inventions that had negative impacts on the world. First, he developed tetraethyl lead for gasoline, which caused widespread lead poisoning, lowered global intelligence, and increased crime rates. Second, he invented Freon, a refrigerant that damaged the ozone layer and contributed to global warming. Midgley himself died in an accident involving his own invention. Later, another scientist, Clair Patterson, discovered the extent of lead contamination in the environment and proved it was due to human activity, helping to ban leaded gasoline worldwide. Despite the ban, lead pollution and its effects, as well as the environmental impact of CFCs, continue to be global issues.
Key Vocabulary
A sharp, sudden increase in the level or amount of something, often followed by a decline.
Examples:
- The stock market experienced a sudden spike in trading volume after the announcement.
- There was a noticeable spike in online sales during the holiday season.
- The doctor noted a spike in the patient's temperature, indicating an infection.
Scientific instruments used to separate and measure the different components of light or other electromagnetic radiation, or to analyze the mass of elements based on their isotopes.
Examples:
- Astronomers use powerful spectrometers to analyze the chemical composition of distant stars.
- The lab technicians calibrated the mass spectrometers before performing the elemental analysis.
- New advancements in portable spectrometers allow for on-site material identification.
Chemical messengers that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse, playing a crucial role in brain function and communication.
Examples:
- Certain medications work by altering the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain to treat mood disorders.
- The study investigated how stress affects the release of specific neurotransmitters.
- Exercise can boost the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine, leading to improved mood.
Existing at or from the beginning of time; ancient or earliest.
Examples:
- The deep-sea vents host unique ecosystems that thrive on primordial energy sources.
- Scientists study primordial gases trapped in ancient ice to understand Earth's early atmosphere.
- The artist sought to capture the primordial beauty of the untouched wilderness.
A substance added to something in small quantities to improve or preserve it.
Examples:
- Food manufacturers often use an additive to extend the shelf life of their products.
- The new engine required a special fuel additive to prevent knocking.
- Some paints contain an additive that helps them dry faster.
A common mineral, a zirconium silicate, known for its durability and often used in radiometric dating due to its ability to incorporate uranium but exclude lead during formation.
Examples:
- Geologists extracted tiny zircon crystals from the rock sample to determine its age.
- The ancient sandstone contained numerous microscopic zircon grains, indicating its geological history.
- Zircon is a key mineral for understanding the early formation of continental crust.
Small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets, often found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Examples:
- Scientists are studying asteroids for clues about the formation of the solar system.
- A mission was launched to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid.
- Some theories suggest that the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by a large asteroid impact.
Suspensions of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas, often used in products like spray cans or found in the atmosphere.
Examples:
- Many household cleaning products are dispensed as aerosols for convenience.
- Volcanic eruptions can release large amounts of aerosols into the atmosphere, affecting global temperatures.
- The artist used various aerosols to create different textures in the painting.
Filled with horror or shock.
Examples:
- She was aghast at the sight of the ruined ancient manuscript.
- The audience was aghast when the magician's trick went horribly wrong.
- He looked aghast at the unexpected news of the company's closure.
A naturally occurring radioactive metallic element, often found in trace amounts in rocks and minerals, known for its potential use in nuclear energy.
Examples:
- Researchers are exploring thorium as a safer alternative fuel for nuclear reactors.
- The rare earth deposit contained significant quantities of thorium.
- Thorium has a very long half-life, making it a stable element for geological dating.
A shortened, informal term for 'graduate' or 'graduate school,' referring to advanced academic study beyond a bachelor's degree.
Examples:
- After college, she decided to go to grad school to pursue a master's degree in engineering.
- Many students find that applying to grad programs can be a very competitive process.
- He spent several years in grad research before joining the industry.
Substances used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems that undergo phase changes (evaporation and condensation) to absorb and release heat, thereby cooling an area.
Examples:
- Older air conditioners often used CFCs as refrigerants, which are now being phased out due206to environmental concerns.
- The technician checked the level of refrigerants in the commercial freezer.
- Newer refrigerants are designed to be more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
To catch fire or cause to catch fire; to start a combustion process.
Examples:
- The dry tinder quickly ignited with a single spark.
- The engine's fuel-air mixture is ignited by the spark plug.
- A small flame ignited the gas, causing a controlled burn.
A white, crystalline, aromatic substance obtained from the camphor tree or synthesized, commonly used in medicines, mothballs, and as a flavoring.
Examples:
- The chest rub contained camphor, giving it a distinctive strong scent.
- She remembered the smell of camphor from her grandmother's old wooden chest.
- Camphor is sometimes used in traditional remedies for its soothing properties.
A unit of power, commonly used to rate the power of engines, originally defined as the power an average horse could exert.
Examples:
- The sports car boasted an impressive 500 horsepower engine.
- The tractor had sufficient horsepower to plow the entire field in a day.
- When comparing vehicles, many buyers look at the engine's horsepower and torque.
From the original source or personal experience; directly.
Examples:
- She gained firsthand knowledge of the local culture by living with a host family.
- The journalist reported firsthand on the unfolding events from the scene.
- He experienced the challenges of starting a new business firsthand.
In a strange and frightening manner; in a way that suggests the supernatural.
Examples:
- The old abandoned house stood eerily silent on the hill.
- The fog rolled in, making the forest eerily quiet and mysterious.
- The two graphs matched eerily, suggesting a strong, unexpected correlation.
Long, slender projections of nerve cells (neurons) that typically conduct electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Examples:
- The myelin sheath insulates the axons, allowing for faster signal transmission.
- Damage to the axons can impair nerve function and lead to neurological disorders.
- Neuroscientists study the growth and branching of axons during brain development.
A rare, radioactive metallic element, which is an intermediate product in the decay chain of uranium to lead.
Examples:
- Protactinium is an unstable element with a relatively short half-life.
- The presence of protactinium in a sample indicates recent uranium decay.
- Scientists use the decay of protactinium to study geological processes.
Relating to the measurement of radioactivity, especially for the purpose of dating geological or archaeological specimens by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.
Examples:
- Radiometric dating is a reliable method for determining the age of ancient rocks.
- The discovery of new isotopes has improved the accuracy of radiometric dating techniques.
- Scientists used radiometric analysis to confirm the age of the fossilized remains.