The Age of the Earth & The Fall of Leaded Gasoline: Clair Patterson

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Previously titled “How the work of one researcher, Dr Clair Patterson, brought the fall of leaded gasoline and discovered the age of the Earth! ” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 4, 2026

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Recorded21 Jul 2025

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Handlerec:2079708

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Time for someone who some have called the greatest scientist you have not heard of. Likely the reason average IQ's have no fallen (even if it feels like they have - idiocracy)!This is the sibling episode to the last one. The rise of Leaded Gas. This time the story starts with Dr. Clair Patterson a geochemist. Before the PhD and discovering the age of the Earth, Clair Patterson and his wife Laurie (also a chemist) became civilians working on the Manhattan project. No not in New Mexico designing the bomb like depicted in the movie Oppenheimer. Instead they got to work on the problem of concentrating Uranium. A 235U electromagnetic separation plant (figure in the post!) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.From there on to a PhD. The following of the data lead to lead being everywhere. Before advocating for the elimination of lead he developed the first clean room and found the age of the earth by dating a meteorite (fragment of which is picture with the post). His work brought about the downfall of leaded gasoline. His story has been told many times before but probably not like this. Even if you already know the story I bet there is new nuggets here. Whimsical even....So with the release of this episode, season 1 is done! Time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t.Special thanks to those who did give me feedback throughout the year. It was needed. Embrace the terrible puns and jokes, don’t apologize for them! Was just one piece of advice I got.And of course thanks to all the guests that agreed to come on the podcast! Some without any tie to someone I know and they took a chance to share their work. A unknown podcast showing up in an email or call out ask.The next 3 eps will be encore additions. Some of my favourites from this inaugural season and then on September 15 season 2 will start!Links for Whimsical Wavelengths:Facebook:www.facebook.com/WhimsicalWavelengthsInstagram: @whimsical.wavelengthsBluesky: @whimsicallambda.bsky.socialEmail: [email protected]: patreon.com/WhimsicalWavelengths

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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