The Great Pacific
Garbage Patch
&
The Age of
the Universe

You’ve seen photos online of the giant, swirling garbage patch in the middle of the pacific ocean. The reality is not quite so dramatic, but still a serious issue to scientists and others concerned with the health of the Earth. Today we’ll hear from Dr. Matthew Hoffman, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the Rochester Institute of Technology, about how scientists are measuring and modeling the pollution floating in our oceans and great lakes. In the second half of our show we’ll talk about how astronomers have learned to establish the age and size of our Universe.

• Host: Brian Koberlein
• Guest: Matt Hoffman
• Producer: Mark Gillespie
• Music: Marcus Warner