Latest news with #Midgley
Economic Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
How one American inventor unknowingly unleashed two of the planet's greatest environmental disasters
Thomas Midgley Jr., once hailed as a genius, invented two revolutionary solutions—leaded gasoline and CFCs—that unknowingly became environmental disasters. In the annals of invention, few names echo with such tragic irony as that of Thomas Midgley Jr. Hailed in his lifetime as a chemical wizard who solved the mechanical ailments of a rapidly modernizing world, Midgley's innovations were initially celebrated as miraculous breakthroughs. Yet in the cold clarity of hindsight, his inventions are seen as environmental catastrophes of epic scale — twin disasters that humanity is still struggling to undo. One soot-blackened, gasping century after he stood before journalists in 1924, grinning as he poured a lethal chemical over his hands and inhaled its toxic fumes to prove a point, the damage is still unfolding. Midgley didn't just change the world — he unintentionally poisoned it. It was a time of boundless belief in science. The United States was roaring through the 1920s, driven by the promise of machines, speed, and petroleum. In this high-octane climate, Midgley — a chemical engineer working for General Motors — was tasked with fixing a problem that threatened the future of automobiles: engine knock. After testing thousands of substances, Midgley struck upon tetraethyl lead, a compound that silenced the problem and gave birth to 'Ethyl' gasoline. At a press event, he theatrically doused his hands in the compound and inhaled its fumes to allay public fears. But soon after, he himself would fall ill. The irony? He was already poisoned, and so was the world. Despite the already known dangers of lead, which can severely impair cognitive development — particularly in children — the product was a commercial success. It powered cars and economies. It also contaminated soil, poisoned air, and irreparably harmed generations. The World Health Organization still estimates that a million people die each year from lead poisoning, long after the compound's use was banned in most countries. Having seemingly solved one global dilemma, Midgley turned to another: how to replace the toxic and flammable gases then used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Again, he succeeded — and again, the consequences would prove catastrophic. In 1930, Midgley introduced Freon, the first chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). Marketed as safe and efficient, Freon transformed daily life. Air conditioning became accessible. Spray cans became ubiquitous. But the molecule's stability — once its greatest virtue — was its deadliest flaw. CFCs rose into the stratosphere, where they began to eat away at the ozone layer, Earth's natural sunscreen. It wasn't until the 1970s, decades after Midgley's death, that scientists realized what had happened. A hole in the ozone layer had opened above Antarctica, threatening all life with heightened UV exposure. The global response was swift — by 1987, the Montreal Protocol aimed to phase out CFCs. Even so, scientists estimate it will take another 40 to 50 years before the ozone layer fully recovers. Leaded gasoline, despite its known risks, was not fully phased out globally until 2021. Its final holdout, Algeria, continued sales into the 21st century. And even now, aviation fuels still contain lead additives. A 2022 study found that half of all Americans alive today may have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead as children — a staggering public health legacy tied back to Midgley's 'miracle fuel.' In both cases — Ethyl and Freon — Midgley was hailed as a savior, awarded medals, lauded in scientific journals, and immortalized by institutions. But his tale did not have a heroic end. Stricken by polio in 1940, Midgley became severely disabled. Ever the inventor, he designed a contraption of pulleys and ropes to help him move independently between his bed and a wheelchair. But on November 2, 1944, he became fatally entangled in his own device. Officially ruled a suicide by some, his death has long been shrouded in tragic symbolism — a man strangled by his own creation. According to a report from CNN , some historians including Radford University's Bill Kovarik, Midgley may have been haunted by guilt in his final years. 'He had a tremendous sense of guilt,' said Kovarik. 'The lead poisoning could have contributed to his psychosis.' Today, it's tempting to paint Midgley as the villain — the man who, more than anyone else, broke the sky and poisoned the air. But historians warn against such simplification. He was, they argue, a cog in the great industrial machinery of the 20th century — a man responding to the demands of corporate giants like GM and DuPont, within a society intoxicated by progress. 'Had it not been Midgley, I'm sure it would have been somebody else,' said historian Gerald Markowitz according to CNN . 'He was just an employee.' Indeed, his story is not just about one man's fatal brilliance. It is a cautionary tale about the blind pursuit of innovation, the arrogance of unchecked industry, and the long shadow of scientific oversight. It is about how the very notion of 'progress' was once considered an unquestioned good — even when it poisoned the Earth in the process. Today, as we stand beneath a slowly healing ozone layer and breathe in a world still contaminated by lead, Midgley's story remains both a haunting warning and a call to humility. Science can illuminate, but it can also blind. Invention can uplift, but it can also entangle. Midgley didn't live to see the damage unfold. But his tale is far from over. It lingers in the air we breathe, in the soil beneath our cities, and in the sky above our heads — a legacy both invisible and inescapable. And perhaps, just perhaps, in remembering him, we can remember the cost of forgetting caution.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How one American inventor unknowingly unleashed two of the planet's greatest environmental disasters
In the annals of invention, few names echo with such tragic irony as that of Thomas Midgley Jr. Hailed in his lifetime as a chemical wizard who solved the mechanical ailments of a rapidly modernizing world, Midgley's innovations were initially celebrated as miraculous breakthroughs. Yet in the cold clarity of hindsight, his inventions are seen as environmental catastrophes of epic scale — twin disasters that humanity is still struggling to undo. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Pak moving troops to border areas? All that's happening Why India chose to abstain instead of 'No Vote' against IMF billion-dollar funding to Pakistan How Pak's jihadi general Munir became trapped in his own vice One soot-blackened, gasping century after he stood before journalists in 1924, grinning as he poured a lethal chemical over his hands and inhaled its toxic fumes to prove a point, the damage is still unfolding. Midgley didn't just change the world — he unintentionally poisoned it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The Deadly Promise of Progress It was a time of boundless belief in science. The United States was roaring through the 1920s, driven by the promise of machines, speed, and petroleum. In this high-octane climate, Midgley — a chemical engineer working for General Motors — was tasked with fixing a problem that threatened the future of automobiles: engine knock. After testing thousands of substances, Midgley struck upon tetraethyl lead, a compound that silenced the problem and gave birth to 'Ethyl' gasoline. At a press event, he theatrically doused his hands in the compound and inhaled its fumes to allay public fears. But soon after, he himself would fall ill. The irony? He was already poisoned, and so was the world. You Might Also Like: How a Nobel-nominated scientist was cancelled for exposing the invisible danger we face every day Despite the already known dangers of lead, which can severely impair cognitive development — particularly in children — the product was a commercial success. It powered cars and economies. It also contaminated soil, poisoned air, and irreparably harmed generations. The World Health Organization still estimates that a million people die each year from lead poisoning , long after the compound's use was banned in most countries. — rossiadam (@rossiadam) Cooling the World, Burning the Sky Having seemingly solved one global dilemma, Midgley turned to another: how to replace the toxic and flammable gases then used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Again, he succeeded — and again, the consequences would prove catastrophic. In 1930, Midgley introduced Freon, the first chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). Marketed as safe and efficient, Freon transformed daily life. Air conditioning became accessible. Spray cans became ubiquitous. But the molecule's stability — once its greatest virtue — was its deadliest flaw. CFCs rose into the stratosphere, where they began to eat away at the ozone layer, Earth's natural sunscreen. It wasn't until the 1970s, decades after Midgley's death, that scientists realized what had happened. A hole in the ozone layer had opened above Antarctica, threatening all life with heightened UV exposure. The global response was swift — by 1987, the Montreal Protocol aimed to phase out CFCs. Even so, scientists estimate it will take another 40 to 50 years before the ozone layer fully recovers. You Might Also Like: How India's first female sociologist-anthropologist, named after a river, carved her own course defying Nazis, caste and conventions A Heavy Toll, Still Unfolding Leaded gasoline, despite its known risks, was not fully phased out globally until 2021. Its final holdout, Algeria, continued sales into the 21st century. And even now, aviation fuels still contain lead additives. A 2022 study found that half of all Americans alive today may have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead as children — a staggering public health legacy tied back to Midgley's 'miracle fuel.' In both cases — Ethyl and Freon — Midgley was hailed as a savior, awarded medals, lauded in scientific journals, and immortalized by institutions. But his tale did not have a heroic end. Entangled in Irony Stricken by polio in 1940, Midgley became severely disabled. Ever the inventor, he designed a contraption of pulleys and ropes to help him move independently between his bed and a wheelchair. But on November 2, 1944, he became fatally entangled in his own device. Officially ruled a suicide by some, his death has long been shrouded in tragic symbolism — a man strangled by his own creation. According to some historians, including Radford University's Bill Kovarik, Midgley may have been haunted by guilt in his final years. 'He had a tremendous sense of guilt,' said Kovarik. 'The lead poisoning could have contributed to his psychosis.' Caught in the Cogs of Progress Today, it's tempting to paint Midgley as the villain — the man who, more than anyone else, broke the sky and poisoned the air. But historians warn against such simplification. He was, they argue, a cog in the great industrial machinery of the 20th century — a man responding to the demands of corporate giants like GM and DuPont, within a society intoxicated by progress. 'Had it not been Midgley, I'm sure it would have been somebody else,' said historian Gerald Markowitz according to a report from CNN . 'He was just an employee.' Indeed, his story is not just about one man's fatal brilliance. It is a cautionary tale about the blind pursuit of innovation, the arrogance of unchecked industry, and the long shadow of scientific oversight. It is about how the very notion of 'progress' was once considered an unquestioned good — even when it poisoned the Earth in the process. Redemption in Recovery? Today, as we stand beneath a slowly healing ozone layer and breathe in a world still contaminated by lead, Midgley's story remains both a haunting warning and a call to humility. Science can illuminate, but it can also blind. Invention can uplift, but it can also entangle. Midgley didn't live to see the damage unfold. But his tale is far from over. It lingers in the air we breathe, in the soil beneath our cities, and in the sky above our heads — a legacy both invisible and inescapable. And perhaps, just perhaps, in remembering him, we can remember the cost of forgetting caution.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Champion Aussie boxer who was a heroin addict at 13 opens up about fighting just WEEKS after an overdose left him on the brink of death
Aussie boxer Nick Midgley has opened up about his harrowing 22-year battle with drug addiction, revealing that he trained for his biggest fights while he was in rehab following an overdose. Midgley, 41, has turned his life around after decades of addiction that began when he started injecting heroin at just 13. He's now transformed his life and is trying to help others do the same with his unique rehab centre, Hope in Health, which he has recently relocated to Thailand. 'I was a kid from Melbourne that grew up and gravitated to drugs really quickly,' he told Gary Jubelin on the I Catch Killers podcast. 'I didn't understand why, I seemed to have come from a decent family in a decent area. 'My dad was a good provider, you know, spent times at good schools. 'From an outside perspective, there was no idea why it happened, you know? 'And I sort of lived in that confusion. I didn't really know why I got into drugs.' When he discovered heroin, Midgley said the world suddenly made a lot more sense. 'I thought I had found the holy grail of substances. The secret to life,' he said. 'I had a bit of an ego back then, I thought junkies came from bad backgrounds. I didn't think I'd get addicted. 'It was my own little secret. But my parents found out after finding drug stuff in my blazer after I'd run away from boarding school. By the age of 16, I was fully addicted.' Midgley's dad introduced to him boxing as a kid and he decided to take it more seriously while battling his addiction issues as a young adult. He would go onto to have 14 amateur and nine professional fights and win the NSW cruiserweight title. 'One of the things that I liked about boxing and fight camps was that it was the closest thing that I had to like a reason not to take drugs and not to drink,' Midgley told Daily Mail Australia. 'So, I used to book myself a fight, and do my best I can stay clean and sober. When it worked, I did okay. When it didn't work, I wasn't as good.' One of Migley's lowest points was when he overdosed so badly that he was on the brink of death and struggled to even walk once revived. Amazingly, he accepted a fight shortly afterwards while he was recovering in rehab. 'I was in rehab, full of shame, and I wanted to come out in the best state that I could,' he said. 'I found the drive to train while I was in rehab. One of my old trainers came and held pads for me a couple of times a week. 'Although I lost the fight, it was still one of my personal standouts because five weeks prior to that I was at death's door, not being able to walk from an overdose and psychosis, and smoking thirty cigarettes a day. 'I was just in a really f**king bad way. My wife had left me and back home, I didn't have anywhere to go - so it was a big moment.' Midgley decided to hang up the gloves when he noticed his resiliance to punches was fading. He's now dedicated to helping others who are fighting with addiction issues and urges anybody struggling to seek help.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- BBC News
Fresh appeal for mum of baby found in Kirkham stream in 2011
Police have renewed an appeal "to solve the mystery" of a baby boy whose body was found in a boy, who was thought to be no more than a few weeks old, was found in Spen Brook, off Carr Lane, Kirkham, in Police Det Ch Insp Bryony Midgley said while the baby's father was traced last year through DNA, and he helped with the investigation, the mother has still not been case is being reinvestigated by the Lancashire Police major crime cold case review team set up 18 months ago. Detectives believe the baby was no more than a month old and had been born at is thought his body had been in the water for no more than five days when he was discovered by a dog walker.A union jack towel, a green towel with a "Renaissance" label and a discoloured fleece which was originally blue and white were found near the Ch Insp Midgley said: "I am renewing our appeal for information in the hope we can solve the mystery of the tragic death of a newborn baby boy more than 13 years ago."This is such a sad case and it had a huge impact on the community in Kirkham."We have never been able to give him an identify or find out why he came to be in this brook."She added: "We have made progress as the baby boy's dad has now been traced thanks to advances in DNA technology." Det Insp Midgley said the boy's father lived in Blackpool. Det Insp Midgley urged anyone who has information on who the baby's mother was to come forward. "You might not have wanted to come forward back then, but with the passage of time it will feel right to do so now," she said.A funeral service was held in 2012 at St Michael's Church, Kirkham, paid for by donations from local residents and businesses. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Watch: Driver almost run over by his own Range Rover after garage blunder
A driver was almost run over by his own Range Rover after a garage blunder left it in 'maintenance mode'. Carl Midgley, 60, from Guiseley, West Yorkshire, had taken his Range Rover evoque for work on its rear brakes at a nearby garage. But when his wife Joanne, 63, parked it up afterwards, the handbrake failed and it careered down the drive towards him. CCTV footage showed Mrs Midgley attempt to get out of the car as it rolled down the sloped drive. It eventually came to a stop on a flowerbed as Mr Midgley ran up the drive in an attempt to bring it to a halt. Mr Midgley said the incident, which occurred in the summer of 2023, could have killed someone and had exacerbated his wife's existing hip issue. 'Very dangerous' Speaking about the incident for the first time, he said: 'I couldn't have ever imagined this happening, but it did and it was very dangerous.' He continued: 'My wife was getting out and it dragged her down the drive. She was already waiting for a hip operation. I've been having physio on my back. 'They have caused an injury to my back and made my wife's hip worse. They've now basically told us to go away.' The Midgleys, who are foster carers, took the car back to the garage – Vertu Land Rover in Guiseley – after the incident. There, the thousands of pounds worth of damage to its rear bumper, door, tyres and wheels was repaired for free. 'We often have our grandchildren over and are foster carers. That car could have killed a toddler,' Mr Midgley said. 'I don't believe what they have done for us is fair.' A spokesman for the dealership said: 'This matter was resolved in 2023, with the customer accepting extensive goodwill gestures. 'We are pleased that the customer is still using our services.'
