Saving the Earths Ozone Layer Went Even Better Than Expected. In 1. 98. 9, amidst mounting scientific evidence, dozens of nations joined forces to sign a treaty aimed at halting the expansion of a massive hole in Earths ozone layer. Nearly thirty years later, the Montreal Protocol has done just that. But it has also done something its architects never intended. It has become one of Americas most effective tools in the fight against climate change. California Juco Football Programs more. Thats the surprising conclusion of a study published this week in Geophysical Research Letters, which takes a fresh look at the consequences of the nearly 3. CFCs and later, hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFCs, after scientists determined that these compounds were destroying ozone in Earths stratosphere. Since CFCs and HCFCs are also potent greenhouse gases, phasing them out has had a major impact on US climate pollution Between 2. Montreal Protocol led to greenhouse gas reductions with roughly half the benefit of all other climate regulations enacted by the EPA. This is something thats been talked about for a while, this dual benefit of the Montreal Protocol limiting damage to the ozone layer, also curtailing climate change, Rachel Cleetus, climate policy manager and lead economist with the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned scientists, told Gizmodo. Its because all these ozone depleting substances are also very potent global warming gases. Indeed, the CFCs and HCFCs used as refrigerator coolants, aerosol propellants, flame retardants, and more have heat trapping potentials hundreds to thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide on a timescale of centuries. While prior research has highlighted the climate benefits of the Protocol on a global scale, the new study looked specifically at what its implementation meant for climate pollution in the US. This is a wonderful advertisement of the success of the Clean Air Act just at a time when it is being undermined by the Trump administration. Under the Montreal Protocolwhich was enforced by the EPAs Clean Air Actthe US saw a a near complete phaseout of CFCs beginning in 1. HCFCs since 1. 99. The Rosen Law Blog reminds us that there are penalties for the failure to pay child support. The most obvious penalty is that the deadbeat parent can be. Pulling data from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administrations atmospheric monitoring network, Lei Hu from the University of Colorado Boulder and her colleagues demonstrated that from 2. CO2 emissions by 1. Projecting forward, the researchers found that the continued implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments could shave some 5. CO2 off our carbon footprint annually by 2. For context, 5. 00 million tons of CO2 is roughly a quarter of what we need to cut to meet our Paris Climate Agreement target, of reducing emissions 2. Its also close to the annual US emissions from the entire agriculture sector. There is a catch Today, the climate benefits of slashing CFCs and HCFCs are being offset, in part, by the use of hydrofluorocarbons HFCs, which dont destroy ozone like their nastier cousins, but are still hundreds to thousands of times more effective at trapping heat than CO2. The good news is, last year, the US and other countries adhering to the Montreal Protocol agreed to limit future production and consumption of HFCs, too, with the adoption of the Kigali amendment. The legally binding amendment, which mandates rich countries stop production and use of HFCs by 2. Secretary of State John Kerry as the single most important step in the fight against climate change. This, less than a week after 1. I/51V5kdeyOFL._SY355_.jpg' alt='How To Fix A Cracked Zune Screen Went' title='How To Fix A Cracked Zune Screen Went' />Paris Climate Agreement. Of course, as positive as this is, we still need to bring down carbon emissions if were going to halt global warming. Unfortunately, Trump and EPA head Scott Pruitt are currently working to do the exact opposite, withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement and unwinding Obama era climate regulations. Perhaps the most important thing the Montreal Protocol has to offer todayaside from the immediate environmental benefitsis a salient reminder that meaningful action is possible. As a policy framework, the Montreal Protocol has been an incredible success, Cleetus, who was not involved with the new study, said. Its pretty striking how quickly countries moved together. Whats also striking is how the protocol has matured and been updated over time. Kevin Trenberth, an atmospheric scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, agreed. This is a wonderful advertisement of the success of the Clean Air Act just at a time when it is being undermined by the Trump administration, he told Gizmodo. In 1989, amidst mounting scientific evidence, dozens of nations joined forces to sign a treaty aimed at halting the expansion of a massive hole in Earths ozone layer. Housing in the Santa Clara region of California is insanely expensive. Tech companies have taken to building modern day versions of mill towns just so their employees. Hardware. Servers, storage and various appliances are cloud computings building blocks. G/01/electronics/detail-page/B002JPITXY-4.jpg' alt='How To Fix A Cracked Zune Screen Went' title='How To Fix A Cracked Zune Screen Went' />If one takes appropriate actions it has consequences and can indeed work. Geophysical Research LettersCorrection An earlier version of this post stated that the continued CFCHCFC phaseout could shave some 5. CO2 off our carbon footprint annually by 2. In fact, to reach 5. CO2 equivalent emissions reductions, the US will also need to implement a phaseout of HFCs as stipulated in the Kigali amendment. The text has been updated to reflect this. Apple Cider Vinegar Isnt the Miracle Elixir Its Cracked Up to Be. Apple cider vinegar has been a multipurpose folk remedy for decades, touted as a disinfectant, a natural way to replenish skin and hair, and a superfood with all kinds of benefits. Science has backed a few of these purposes, for vinegar in general, but the observable results are pretty meh. Dont Expect Apple Cider Vinegar to Do Anything for Your Skin and Hair. Several natural living and homeopathic beauty sites tout the benefits of apple cider vinegar to renew the appearance of skin and hair. Some people from a medical background recommend it. I have personally incorporated apple cider vinegar into my daily diet and skincare routine and have seen firsthand the benefits of doing so, says Rebecca Lee, a registered nurse and founder of the natural health website, Remedies. For. Me. com. But there is no definitive study on how well apple cider vinegar performs at skin and hair cleansing tasks. Cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller is skeptical. The benefits of ACV on hair or skin are largely exaggerated, he says. Vinegar has a low p. H which is non damaging but other than helping to remove mineral buildup, vinegar doesnt really provide any benefit. And the idea it makes hair shinier, he says, is just a myth. Vinegar Can Kill Bacteria, but Its No Substitute for Lysol. Vinegar has been used as a disinfectant since the time of Hippocrates, Greek granddaddy of medicine, who prescribed it for ulcerations and sores. The stuff really does kill bacteria, which is why its a great choice for washing lettuce. But its been a long time since vinegar was your best germ killing option for most purposes. For example, in one study, chemical disinfectants like Clorox and Lysol handily outperformed vinegar in reducing pathogens. Medical professionals generally agree that modern chemicals are better at cleaning wounds and fighting infection. Its Not a Miracle Weight Loss Tonic, Either. If youre a mouse, good news Experiments have shown that vinegar helps mice burn fat and suppresses their appetite by, uh, making them nauseous. There is one solid, large study of vinegars effects on humans, published in 2. Japanese researchers. Subjects considered obese by Japanese standards not the less stringent standards of the country that invented the Dennys Grand Slam were divided into three groups and given a drink containing one tablespoon of vinegar, two tablespoons of vinegar, or a placebo. All of the vinegar sippers lost more weight than the placebo drinkers. How much weight A mere two to three pounds over 1. So, even if it helps, were not looking at the secret to major weight loss. Adding vinegar to a meal has also been shown to lower a persons glycemic response to that meal, making it a useful tool in managing diabetes. You can take advantage by using a vinegar based salad dressing or adding an acetic element, like vinegar or a pickled vegetable, to Japanese style rice. Vinegar has also been shown to limit the post meal blood sugar reaction in people with type 2 diabetes. Everyone has an explanation on how this works, says David Greuner, MD, of NYC Surgical Associates. The exact mechanism is not precisely known, but acetic properties and antioxidants, both of which apple cider vinegar provides, are known to absorb or balance out the effects of sugar, he says. So some science backs the apple cider vinegar folklore, but theres no reason to be as excited about it as Dr. Axe. Also, vinegar is not without its downsides, doctors warn. Its acidic qualities can damage teeth, hurt throats, upsets stomachs and lower potassium levels. And it tastes like, well, vinegar.