The Alchemy of Air with Author Thomas Hager
Yara's Crop Nutrition podcast · Yara Crop Nutrition
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Show Notes
We did a short podcast back in October about the discovery of synthetic fertilizer and mentioned the book, "The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler". After the publication of that episode, we were introduced to the Author, Thomas Hager, who generously agreed to come on the podcast. Thomas recounts stories about two chemists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, who together discovered a way to create synthetic fertilizer. He also expounds beyond the book to describe what was simultaneously happening in Norway at Norsk Hydro (later Yara).
This discovery is credited to providing sustainable food for over 1/2 the worlds population.