December 9

Thomas Midgley, Jr. discovered the benefits of leaded gasoline, and a fierce storm is blamed the death of whales and dolphins.

Sun, Dec 09 2012 at 5:00 AM

Dec. 9, 1921: Chemist Thomas Midgley, Jr. discovers that adding Tetraethyl Lead (TEL) to gasoline reduces engine knock and increases performance. Decades later, leaded gasoline would be banned for its impacts on human health.

Dec. 9, 1952: A deadly fog finally lifts over London. As many as 12,000 may have died from the mixed impacts of weather, smog, and factory pollution.

Dec. 9, 2005: A fierce winter storm is blamed for the stranding of nine pilot whales and 24 common dolphins in Cape Cod Bay. None of the animals survive.

Dec. 9, 2012: Another U.N. climate conference ends in Doha, Qatar. Delegates and observers bemoan the meeting’s failure to produce any agreements on greenhouse gas emissions.

Photo: Steve Snodgrass/Flickr

This feature is compiled by Peter Dykstra, an MNN contributor and publisher of Environmental Health News and The Daily Climate.

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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