matthias reinwarthMay 27
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
OTD: Biologist, writer & environmental trailblazer Rachel Carson was born May 27, 1907. Her iconic book "Silent Spring”, published in 1962, highlighted the harmful effects of pesticide use in the USA, specifically DDT, on nature & humanity and is widely regarded as having ignited the modern global environmental movement. Carson died in 1964. 60 years after its publication, “Silent Spring” continues to be as relevant as ever. Photo: Thomas Brosnihan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
May 27 at 5:49pmWeb
Show threadW6KMEMay 27
@maxplanckgesellschaft My mother's uncle was one of the DOW engineers that invented DDT, and swore by it his entire life. My mom got in a lot of trouble for having a copy Silent Spring.
Show threadMax-Planck-GesellschaftMay 27
@W6KME Wow, how that is really an intriguing story! And all kudos to your Mom! 😊
Show threadwobweger May 27
@maxplanckgesellschaft 💚
Show threadNicole ParsonsMay 27

@maxplanckgesellschaft

Rachel Carson faced a nihilistic greedy petrochemical industry just like today.

An industry profiting off frying the planet & profiting from war.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/26/piper-sandler-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-for-months-and-oil-to-hit-new-highs.html

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-27/russia-boosts-crude-oil-exports-to-cash-in-on-middle-east-war

Show threadDoomsdaysCWMay 27
@maxplanckgesellschaft One of my heroes growing up! Thank you for this!
Show threadrob los ricosMay 27

@maxplanckgesellschaft

i had DDT poisoning as a pre-schooler.

since i wasn't even close to finished growing, my innards grew healthy tissue.

now, my immune system will not tolerate viruses in my blood stream.

doctors told my mom i would not live long enough to graduate high school.

i'm 66.

i'm throwing this in just because...

https://youtu.be/atmNLbycafM?list=PLlHP2vgpcfGlUqmSEnIx6lbFF9m15h1IB

T.Rex - 20th Century Boy (Full Version) [HD]

YouTube
Show threadKaren E. Lund 💙💛May 30

@maxplanckgesellschaft Late last year I started re-reading Silent Spring, about 30-35 years after I first read it.

It holds up well. Prescient observations about synthetic chemicals, and of course her influence on the banning of DDT and resurgence of some wildlife. (There are four Bald Eagle nests near me, and at least one in every county in New York State. I recently wrote an article about Osprey, which are commonplace here.)

But I put the book aside about 1/3 in.

1/2

Show threadKaren E. Lund 💙💛May 30

@maxplanckgesellschaft As much as it's good to reminisce about how Silent Spring helped bring about change, it is disheartening to see how little we've really learned. PFAS and plastics are the new environmental threats. The 47th administration is attempting to dismantle the Endangered Species Act and other laws safeguarding the environment (for humans and all species, not only those on the Endangered list).

Anyway, seeing this post inspires me to pick up Carson's book again.

2/2