The scientist told how white paint can stop global warming

In 2021, Purdue University researchers announcedthat developed the whitest paint on Earth. The color is so white that it can reflect more than 98% of the light.

The researchers are confident that when used on buildings, the paint will reduce surface and interior temperatures, as well as reduce the need for air conditioning. Moreover, theoretically, such a coating could reduce the temperature of the entire planet.

According to Jeremy Munday, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California who is involved in cleantech research, if a material like this white paint covers 1-2% of the Earth's surface, then the amount of light reflected back into space will reduce the amount of heat absorbed planet. This will be enough to stabilize global temperatures.

In other words, such paint could be the solution to the problem. climate warming. In addition, Munday noted that the amount of light reflected from the Earth would not cause much harm to space. "It's like pouring a cup of plain water into the ocean"

said he is in an interview with The New York Times.

But how big is this 1-2% of the Earth's surface? The total area of ​​the planet is about 510 million square kilometers (most of which is water), so the paint should cover approximately 5 to 10 million square kilometers. For example, the total area of ​​the United States is just about 9.8 million square kilometers. That is, the whole country would have to be covered with white paint, which is impossible even in theory.

But if you fantasize and calculate the amount of paint needed, then you need approximately 139 billion gallons - and this is only 1% of the Earth's surface. Of course, the difficulties of covering desert and rocky landscapes are not taken into account. Yes, and all this is just a theory that can never go into practice.