The world's carbon-dioxide problem doesn't just affect the atmosphere — the gas is starting to fill our homes, schools, and offices, too.
Indoor levels of the gas are projected to climb so high, in fact, that they could cut people's ability to do complex cognitive tasks in half by the end of the century.
That prediction comes from three scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Pennsylvania, who presented their findings last week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The study is still under peer review but available online in the repository Earth ArXiv.
The findings show that, if global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions continue to rise on their current trajectory, the concentration of CO2 in the air could more than double by 2100. Based on measurements of how humans function in spaces with that much CO2, the scientists warn, we could find ourselves scoring 50% lower on measures of complex thought by the end of the century.
(Score: 2) by acid andy on Monday February 17 2020, @11:52AM (7 children)
I often find modern buildings are so well insulated they can quickly feel stuffy and make me feel a bit drowsy and less productive until I let some fresh air in. In a heavily polluted city I understand the use of air conditioning but if you're lucky enough to not be there just open the window.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Monday February 17 2020, @12:35PM (2 children)
(Score: 2, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Monday February 17 2020, @02:08PM (1 child)
Careful with the plants when you switch off the lights - they expire CO2 also.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Monday February 17 2020, @03:40PM
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Monday February 17 2020, @01:37PM (3 children)
Go out and take a ciggie break.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @03:08PM (2 children)
Going out to smoke at the building's lepers' colony is the opposite of getting fresh air
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Monday February 17 2020, @03:42PM (1 child)
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @04:22PM
I'm not sure that's an advantage.