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Radiocarbon dating

Radiocarbon dating is a method used in archaeology and geology to determine the age of organic materials based on their content of carbon-14. This technique relies on the fact that carbon-14, an isotope of carbon, is constantly formed in the atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays with nitrogen.

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This technique relies on the fact that carbon-14, an isotope of carbon, is constantly formed in the atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays with nitrogen. Living organisms absorb carbon-14 throughout their lives, and the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere remains relatively constant over time. When an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon-14, and the amount of carbon-14 in its remains decreases over time through radioactive decay. By measuring the remaining amount of carbon-14 in a sample, archaeologists can estimate its age. This dating method has been crucial in determining the ages of archaeological and geological materials, providing insights into human history, climate change, and earth sciences. Several refinements and improvements have been made to radiocarbon dating since its discovery in the 1940s, making it a reliable and widely used scientific tool.