Earth Day was founded in 1970. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for a nationwide demonstration in the spring of 1970 aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues. It worked. The first national Earth Day was April 22, 1970.
The backup -80°C freezer service for defrosting is temporarely suspended until further notice. It is expected to resume in April 2026.
In the meantime, if you need to defrost your unit, call the Facilities dispatch line at (212) 746-2288 to request access to an available backup freezer. The backup freezers are used on a first come, first served basis and availability is not guaranteed.