Cosmos (2014)

S1E7 The Clean Room

Geochemist Clair Patterson sought to uncover Earth's actual age, eventually devising the uranium-lead dating technique that revealed it to be 4.5 billion years old. However, this was only the start of his impactful journey. Patterson committed himself to raising awareness about the harmful consequences of lead pollution, taking on the petroleum and chemical industries. His relentless advocacy led to one of the most significant public health triumphs of the 20th century, marking him as a pivotal figure in environmental health.