John Sodeau: Was the man who put lead in petrol and invented CFCs the world's worst inventor?

Times change and certain innovative discoveries end up being dangerous for our health

Smoke emission from exhaust pipe of car.

Scientists can be heroes… and not just for one day, as David Bowie sang. It may be for centuries.

Though it is also true that over time, some scientists can turn from hero to villain. Not in the mad “boffin” sense like Dr No in the James Bond movie, rather because inevitable progress in our technological world is built by standing on the shoulders of giants.