Elizabeth Rusch

Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet

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Stealth Science

Why this book counts

  • Chemistry & Materials
  • Earth Science
  • Environment & Ecology
  • Biography / Memoir
  • Mystery / Investigation

Mario Molina's childhood curiosity leads to his discovery that widely used CFC chemicals were damaging Earth's protective ozone layer. The biography turns atmospheric chemistry into a race to gather evidence, warn the public, and change policy before the environmental harm grew worse.

The science inside

  • Chemistry & Reactions
  • Earth Systems & Geology
  • Scientific Discovery & Careers

Your child will meet:

  • CFC chemicals can participate in reactions that reduce ozone high in Earth's atmosphere.
  • Stratospheric ozone absorbs much of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
  • Scientists use evidence and public communication to help societies respond to environmental risks.

Use it this way

Make a four-arrow chain from CFC use to ozone damage to increased ultraviolet exposure to public action, then ask your child to explain why ozone depletion and climate change are related environmental concerns but not the same chemical problem.

Parent effort: Quick discussion

The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster--now in paperback! Mexican American Mario Molina was a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in Earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Mario went on to become a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in fighting the ongoing climate crisis.

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