The Mauna observatory in Hawaii is more than 11,100ft above sea level and has played a critical role in recording global warming. I did, however, have enough guile to determine in undergraduate chemistry experiments what was a reasonable answer to come up with. A high point while with The Irish Times was editing the Science & Climate page since 2017, a role which Caroline O’Doherty is taking over. The former stems from having built a pool of contributors and columnists who consider in compelling ways issues affecting human lives and Earth – and what might get us to a better place with the application of sound science. But the reality is also that NOAA cuts, if applied, not only endanger American lives but all global citizens.