👤 whose
Whose name is attached to the estimate of Earth’s age from radioactive decay?
Quick Answer
Claire Patterson is the scientist who established Earth’s age at about 4.55 billion years. He did it in 1956 using lead-isotope measurements.
The Full Story
American geochemist Clair Cameron Patterson analyzed meteorites and carefully measured uranium-lead ratios to determine Earth’s age. In 1956 he published an estimate of about 4.55 billion years, which remains the accepted age to within a small margin. His work also helped reveal how much lead pollution had spread in the environment. Patterson’s research changed both geochronology and environmental science.
Key Facts
1.Earth’s age about 4.55 billion years
2.published by Patterson in 1956
3.used uranium-lead dating in meteorites
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"How scientists measured Earth’s age to the billion"
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