Chemistry
Chemical Mechanisms of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Quick fact
A single chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere, making chlorine a highly efficient and persistent catalyst for ozone depletion.
Why this is interesting
You wear sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays, but who protects Earth from those same harmful rays? The answer is ozone—and we've been accidentally poking holes in that invisible shield using chemicals from spray cans and fridges.