Main content

Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world. Taking nitrogen from the air to make ammonia, which makes fertiliser.

Saving lives with thin air - by taking nitrogen from it to make fertiliser, the Haber-Bosch Process has been called the greatest invention of the 20th century - and without it almost half the world's population would not be alive today. Tim Harford tells the story of two German chemists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, figured out a way to use nitrogen from the air to make ammonia, which makes fertiliser. It was like alchemy; 'Brot aus Luft', as Germans put it, 'Bread from air'.

Haber and Bosch both received a Nobel prize for their invention. But Haber's place in history is controversial - he is also considered the 'father of chemical warfare' for his years of work developing and weaponising chlorine and other poisonous gases during World War One.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Mar 2017 12:04

Broadcast

  • Tue 21 Mar 2017 12:04

Download this programme

Listen to this series anytime, anywhere. Full series available now.