Newly discovered molecule has potential to offset climate change and cool the planet
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Sandia combustion researchers Craig Taatjes, left, and David Osborn with the apparatus used to detect Criegee biradicals (Photo: Dino Vournas)
A newly discovered molecule, known as a Criegee biradical or Criegee intermediate, holds the potential to help offset global warming by actually cooling the planet (Photo: Shutterstock)
Article Summary
Researchers claim a newly discovered molecule found in the Earth’s atmosphere holds the potential to help offset global warming by actually cooling the planet. The molecule is a Criegee biradical or Criegee intermediate, which are chemical intermediaries that are powerful oxidizers of pollutants produced by combustion, such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. They have the ability to naturally clean up the atmosphere by helping break down nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide to form sulfate and nitrate, which ultimately leads to cloud formation that could help cool the planet.
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