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The inert gases that climbed too high

In 1974, two chemists in California asked a plain question about man-made gases used in spray cans: where do they end up? Their answer started a long fight. Research and a bestselling book about pesticides show why that question matters. This is history and research, not health advice.

Major #29: ChemistryThe story: F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina (1970s). The book: Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.

About 8 minutes

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In this lesson

  • A gas with no way out
  • Thirteen years to an answer
  • What the research says
  • The book: Silent Spring
  • What the evidence says about the book
  • Where this comes from
  • Try it today
  • 4 questions to check yourself

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