William H. Schlesinger

Nov 23, 2024 | blogs.nicholas.duke.edu | William H. Schlesinger

Reposted from April 2016 due to current controversy about fluorine in drinking waterA few weeks ago, I read an article describing outrage among a group of citizens over fluoridation of their local drinking water. What’s behind this issue? First, we must engage in a little biogeochemistry—in this case, how human physiology is affected by environmental chemistry. Teeth and bones are largely constructed of a calcium-based mineral known as apatite. It comes in several forms.

Nov 11, 2024 | blogs.nicholas.duke.edu | William H. Schlesinger

Ah, the smell of a new car. To get inside a new car for a drive with friends is part of the American experience. The “new car smell” is a sign that you have arrived. When we close the door to begin the journey, we are encapsulated in a mix of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, various body odors, a few local air pollutants that are entrained from outside, and a smidgeon of the refrigerants that can leak from the car’s air conditioning system.

Oct 28, 2024 | blogs.nicholas.duke.edu | William H. Schlesinger

Bringing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere down to preindustrial levels will be a daunting task, including reducing current emissions and removing the CO2 that has accumulated from past emissions.  The costs of rapid climate change demand that we do so. Yet, I marvel at some schemes proposed to achieve these reductions, including enhanced rock weathering and the spreading of charcoal on agricultural lands.

Oct 19, 2024 | blogs.nicholas.duke.edu | William H. Schlesinger

A lot of corporations and academic institutions are reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere with the hope that the world may avoid the worst of the ongoing rapid climate change. High tech firms are investing in projects that are anticipated to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to balance or “offset” their emissions from daily operations. Across the nation, 700 colleges and universities have pledged to join the low carbon movement.

Oct 12, 2024 | blogs.nicholas.duke.edu | William H. Schlesinger

Rolling, rolling, rolling on the riverProud MaryCredence Clearwater Revival, 1969When the U.S. Supreme Court, now with a largely Trump-appointed conservative majority, overturned the Roe vs. Wade precedent, a woman’s right to choose was elevated to the highest level of political debate. Less obvious was a recent decision to grant immunity to the President for most actions taken in office, including attempts to overturn an election, bring rivals to justice, and steal classified documents.