Episode Details

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-chemical-reaction-that-feeds-the-world-daniel-d-dulek

How do we grow crops quickly enough to feed the Earth's billions? It's called the Haber process, which turns the nitrogen in the air into ammonia, easily converted in soil to the nitrate plants need to survive. Though it has increased food supply worldwide, the Haber process has also taken an unforeseen toll on the environment. Daniel D. Dulek delves into the chemistry and consequences.

Lesson by Daniel D. Dulek, animation by Uphill Downhill.

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