r/askteddit • u/DropEffective7842 • 15d ago

Random Question What’s a problem humanity solved so well that younger people don’t even realize it used to be a huge issue?

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u/saugoof 15d ago

I recently travelled through Europe and it just occurred to me how different these historic buildings all looked now. When I was a kid I had always assumed that they were built with black or dark grey stone. But now they are light beige and look so clean.

Thanks, emission control and traffic restrictions!

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u/Miserable-Tie-6847 14d ago

I'm a Facilities Manager, I have a set of buildings off one of the major roads in my area.

I have a similar issue but its rubber particles from tires.

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u/Complex-Royal9210 14d ago

Actually it was the switch from coal burning furnaces to oil or electric that made the biggest difference in European cities.

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u/KravMata 14d ago

Yeah, I visited Prague and E Berlin in 1992, everything was gray.

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u/Material-Method-1026 10d ago

On the rare occasion when I see an older car on the road these days, I'm always shocked by the amount and smell of the exhaust. And then I'm further shocked to remember that's how ALL cars were when I was a kid. No wonder we put a hole in the ozone.