Tyndall, John

[person]

Irish physicist born at Leighlin Bridge, County Carlow (1820-1893). Tyndall was one of the first scientists to recognize the natural greenhouse effect and to identify the relative importance of various greenhouse gases. He also showed that ozone is an oxygen cluster (O₃), not a hydrogen compound. In addition, Tyndall was a prolific inventor, devising a respirator for firefighters, the foghorn, and the light pipe, which was the progenitor of fiber optics.