First, absorption helps people by preventing high-energy radiation from reaching the surface which limits our exposure to harmful radiation. The atmosphere absorbs most of the radiation from the ultraviolet region through the X-ray region. The second way in which absorption helps the earth is as a heat source for it.
*lean times (ahead). Fig. a future period of lowered income or revenue; a future period when there will be shortages of goods and suffering. (*Typically: be ~; cause ~; have ~; mean ~ .) The economy is going sour which means lean times ahead.
lean 1. 1. to incline or bend from a vertical position: to lean out the window. 2. to incline, as in a particular direction; slant: The post leans to the left. 3. to incline in feeling, opinion, action, etc.: to lean toward socialism. 4. to rest or lie for support: to lean against a wall.