Clair Patterson

  • Born in Mitchellville, Iowa

  • Graduation from Grinnell College

  • Worked on Manhattan Project

  • Begins work on uranium and lead dating in zircon crystals

  • Receives Ph.D from University of Chicago

  • Begins career at CalTech

  • Determines the age of the earth

  • Trips to ice caves in Antarctica and Greenland

  • Tries to bring public's attention to danger of lead poisoning

  • Excluded from National Research Council panel on atmospheric lead contamination

  • Leaded gas begins to be phased out

  • Death in California

  • Lead levels in humans decreased by 80%