Technically, the statement in the NASA Educator Guide is incorrect, since all matter can also absorb heat through conduction (air is quite a good insulator BTW). However, it was made in the context of a discussion of radiative heat transfer in the atmosphere, so, perhaps, it can be forgiven. In any event, a minor error in teaching materials for primary students (and I will bring it to their attention) has zero effect on the science.

The real “flaw” is in the article itself, and it is not at all “hidden”. It is spectacular:

“Consider too that since most air molecules are infrared-transparent, they can’t be heated by the infrared that CO2 and water vapor emit….To repeat: Irrespective of the manner of transfer, all gases absorb heat, and all heated gases radiate heat (infrared light) in close proportion to their temperature. Major gases like nitrogen and oxygen, then, do not just radiate heat to the earth below, but the total of this radiation vastly exceeds what minor players like carbon dioxide and water vapor contribute.”

Atmospheric gas molecules and atoms radiate energy at the SAME frequencies that they absorb energy, by the laws of Quantum Mechanics. Nitrogen and oxygen indeed “are infrared-transparent”, but that means that they also do not EMIT IR energy. They are warmed by conduction from greenhouse gases, but do not, themselves, participate in the IR energy FLOWS in the atmosphere. That is why they are not greenhouse gases.

The article is pure bunk. Please remove Alan Siddons from your list of reliable sources.

Here’s yet another:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/the_hidden_flaw_in_greenhouse.html

“Greenhouse Gases and Greenhouse Effect, Environ, Geology”

G. V. Chilingar1 Contact Information, O. G. Sorokhtin2, L. Khilyuk3 and M. V. Gorfunkel4
(1) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rudolf W. Gunnerman Energy and Environment Laboratory, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
(2) Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
(3) Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, American Branch, Los Angeles, CA, USA
(4) Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, American Branch, Coppell, TX, USA

Received: 11 March 2008 Accepted: 14 October 2008 Published online: 14 November 2008
Abstract Conventional theory of global warming states that heating of atmosphere occurs as a result of accumulation of CO2 and CH4 in atmosphere. The writers show that rising concentration of CO2 should result in the cooling of climate. The methane accumulation has no essential effect on the Earth’s climate. Even significant releases of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide into the atmosphere do not change average parameters of the Earth’s heat regime and the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Moreover, CO2 concentration increase in the atmosphere results in rising agricultural productivity and improves the conditions for reforestation. Thus, accumulation of small additional amounts of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic activities has practically no effect on the Earth’s climate.

Did you not notice this part, above, which contradicts some of your major talking points? Presenting contradictory arguments to “disprove” something is disingenuous at best.

Or this:

“But first let’s examine the basics of why so many scientists think global warming is manmade. Earth’s atmosphere contains natural greenhouse gases (mostly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane) which act to keep the lower layers of the atmosphere warmer than they otherwise would be without those gases. Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation — the radiant heat energy that the Earth naturally emits to outer space in response to solar heating. Mankind’s burning of fossil fuels (mostly coal, petroleum, and natural gas) releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and this is believed to be enhancing the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. As of 2008, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was about 40% to 45% higher than it was before the start of the industrial revolution in the 1800’s.”