[0.00-4.56] Before I told you the world actually ended in 1945 and we've been living in a type of post-apocalyptic
[4.56-8.56] environment ever since. And I don't mean politically that everything did change, I mean
[8.56-12.96] technologically and chemically. At the turn of the 20th century technology was heading in a very
[12.96-17.36] different direction to where it is today. Today the world is dominated by the chemical war lord,
[17.36-22.08] the snake that eats its own tail and satan who devours his children. Maybe it all started when
[22.08-26.72] German chemist August Caculae had a dream of a snake eating its own tail which revealed to him
[26.72-30.96] the molecular structure of benzene. Benzene is arguably the most important chemical compound and
[30.96-34.88] revolutionized the world of its use of plastic detergents, pesticides and the synthesis of
[34.88-39.28] pharmaceutical drugs. The snake eating its own tail famously represents the cycle of samsara,
[39.28-43.36] the cycle of impermanence and suffering fueled by ignorance. I'm sure the correlation is not
[43.36-46.80] lost on you in the very molecular structure of the plastics that pollute the world and the
[46.80-52.16] pharmaceutical drugs that keep people sick came as the symbol of samsara to a man in his dreams.
[52.24-56.48] The 20th century was the century of industrialized chemistry. The world wars never ended,
[56.48-60.32] the weapons of war were just redirected onto the civilian population and while the marvels of
[60.32-64.48] chemistry has made our world more convenient it's come at the cost of our health and our environment.
[65.12-70.56] Let's take ammonium nitrate. What is ammonium nitrate predominantly used for? The answer is fertilizer
[70.56-75.52] which after the world wars led to the explosion of third world population from 1.2 billion to 7.1
[75.52-79.44] billion via the green revolution. But before it was used as fertilizer the compounds ammonium
[79.60-84.40] and nitrogen were used for bonds, explosives and poison gas. Organa phosphates used as nerve
[84.40-89.36] agents like saren gas were repurposed as pesticides and insecticides. Mustard gas was repurposed
[89.36-94.00] for chemotherapy, chlorine which was used as a chemical weapon was repurposed for water disinfection,
[94.00-98.24] plastic production and household bleach. Teflon which was resistant enough to be used for the man
[98.24-103.36] had a nuclear project was then commercialized for non-stick cookware. Nylon originally used as
[103.36-107.12] parachutes during the war is now the largest contribution of microplastics in the world,
[107.12-112.40] contributing to infertility, endocrine disruptions, cell damage and oxidative stress. But do not fear.
[112.40-116.56] There is a way out of this chemical samsara and a solution lies in resurrecting the maverick
[116.56-121.92] genius of a handful of thinkers, scientists and inventors that were famous in the early 1900s
[121.92-126.96] both who have since been mysteriously erased from the record books. Stay tuned for part 2.