the abbreviated reign of “neon” leon spinks

Lesson #3
BEWARE SOLUTIONS THAT
CREATE NEW PROBLEMS
the global underarm deodorant disaster
Thomas Midgley Jr. was among America’s greatest problem
solvers. Unfortunately, his landmark “Eureka!” moments
had an echo that sounded a lot like “Oops!”
IF YOU TRAVELED back in time to the flashpoint of the 20th centu-
ry’s two most significant environmental fiascoes—the addition of toxic
lead to gasoline, and the invention of ozone-eating chlorofl uorocarbons—
you might be surprised to find the same brilliant and well-intentioned
scientist standing at ground zero of both, grinning with pride but none-
theless holding a lighted match. His name was Thomas Midgley Jr., and
when in 2000 historian J. R. McNeill wrote that Midgley “had more impact
on the atmosphere than any other single organism in earth history,”
it wasn’t necessarily a compliment.
But let’s first give credit for all of the good things Midgley did
throughout his illustrious career. Midgley, who died in 1944, was the human
incarnation of the slogan “Better things for better living . . . through
chemistry.” His work solved problems as diverse as engine knock, rampant
food poisoning, and noxious, exploding refrigerators. His achievements
in chemistry included breakthroughs that not only overcame
confounding scientific problems, but also led to other innovations and inventions
that immeasurably changed life in America, including guided
missiles, more powerful engines for cars, home refrigeration, and air-