The World Set Free

Today on Far Future horizons we present the twelfth episode of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson.

This installment explores the nature of the greenhouse effect (discovered by Joseph Fourier and Svante Arrhenius), and the evidence demonstrating the existence of global warming from humanity's influence.

Tyson begins by describing the long-term history of the planet Venus; based on readings from the Veneraseries of probes to the planet.

Venera 14

Venus once had an ocean, but due to the release of carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions, the runaway greenhouse effect on Venus caused the surface temperatures to increase and boiled away the oceans.

If you want to learn more about the scientists mentioned in this and other episodes in the series here is a very good reference page ~ The Scientists of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.

This episode of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey can be purchased from Amazon Instant video.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey ~ "The World Set Free"
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