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We’re back from our break!
In this episode we’re exploring the multiverse and all of the things that almost didn’t happen in our universe.
Elise tells the story of the 90s electric car renaissance that never was, and the untimely death of the electric vehicle that won over Tom Hanks.
Then Olivia tells a story of something we’re thankful DID happen in our universe: the discovery of the ozone “hole” and the people who harnessed the power of metaphor to fix a problem that could have wiped out all life on Earth (like, actually).
Other topics include the multiverse in pop culture, life updates, and buying a retro camper trailer.
Story #1: EV-1 and the Electric Car Renaissance That Never Was (Elise)
Sources:
The Death of the EV-1, Smithsonian Magazine, June 2006
What Happened to the Electric Car?, NPR, June 2006
Zero-Emission Vehicle Program, California Air Resources Board
Who Killed The Electric Car documentary, January 2006
Watch the EV-1 funeral at Hollywood Cemetery here. The bagpipes!
Story #2: Healing the Ozone Layer and the Metaphor of the Ozone “Hole” (Olivia)
Sources:
The Montreal Protocol protects the terrestrial carbon sink, Young et al published by Nature, August 18 2021
Ozone 101: What Is the Ozone Hole?, NASA Goddard, December 1, 2021
The World We Avoided by Protecting the Ozone Layer, NASA, May 13 2009
Currently newsletter, April 28 2022
Saving the Ozone Layer Also Helped Buy Us Time to Address Climate Change, Earther, August 18 2021
The Ozone Layer, UCAR Center for Science Education
About Montreal Protocol, UN environment programme
What would have happened to the ozone layer if chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had not been regulated?, Newman et al, March 23 2009
Montreal Protocol, Wikipedia
Other good explainers:
Climate 101: Ozone Depletion | National Geographic, February 12 2018
Why you don’t hear about the ozone layer anymore, Vox, November 24 2021
The Dump
Olivia is listening to Something Was Wrong and Father Wants Us Dead, and Elise is watching Stranger Things.
Check out Elise’s vintage shop page Heiss Vintage if you live in Austin and want to know when she’s doing pop-ups! You might even see pics of the new camper trailer soon.
The World Is Burning bookshop is live! Help us come up with book list titles and bulk up our reading list.
Our World is Burning themed playlist is on Spotify.
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Thanks for listening!
World Is Burning 