About this episode
Linda Moulton Howe reports on alarming environmental developments threatening planetary stability. NASA and European Commission research reveals sixty percent ozone loss over the Arctic at eleven miles altitude, among the largest chemical losses observed in a decade. Dr. Paul Newman from NASA Goddard explains how greenhouse gases paradoxically cool the stratosphere while warming surface temperatures, creating conditions that accelerate ozone destruction through polar stratospheric clouds. The weakened ozone layer increases ultraviolet radiation reaching mid-latitudes where most humans live, with documented cases of severe burns occurring within minutes under ozone holes. Ocean temperature data confirms global warming predictions, with seas warming as far down as ten thousand feet. The North Atlantic shows unprecedented warming that surprised researchers. Howe presents scientific evidence that climate models accurately predicted these changes decades ago. The conversation addresses what these interconnected environmental crises mean for humanity's immediate future and whether mitigation remains possible. This report synthesizes cutting-edge research demonstrating Earth systems approaching dangerous tipping points.