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The Inventor who Almost Ended the World (Classic) artwork
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The Inventor who Almost Ended the World (Classic)

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

May 22, 202636:38History

Thomas Midgley's inventions caused his own death, hastened the deaths of millions of people around the world, and very nearly extinguished all life on land. Midgley and his employers didn't set out to poison the air with...

About This Episode

The Inventor who Almost Ended the World (Classic) is an episode from Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries. Thomas Midgley's inventions caused his own death, hastened the deaths of millions of people around the world, and...

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This episode belongs to Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford.

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Episode Details

Published May 22, 2026, 36:38 long, audio available.