Slashdot Mirror
Research Finds Carbon Dating Flawed
eldavojohn writes "New research funded by the National Science Foundation at the University of Miami is showing that carbon dating (the 13C/12C ratio used to infer age) in the ocean can only be trusted up to 150 million years ago. From the primary researcher, 'This study is a major step in terms of rethinking how geologists interpret variations in the 13C/12C ratio throughout Earth's history. If the approach does not work over the past 10 million years, then why would it work during older time periods? As a consequence of our findings, changes in 13C/12C records need to be reevaluated, conclusions regarding changes in the reservoirs of carbon will have to be reassessed, and some of the widely-held ideas regarding the elevation of CO2 during specific periods of the Earth's geological history will have to be adjusted.' While this research doesn't necessarily throw carbon dating out the window, it should cause people to rethink so many theories about early life that revolved around ages of sediment in the oceans."
carbon dating can only be trusted up to 150 million years ago
Does that mean we'll never know for sure how old John McCain is?
Will there be a patch?
Sig? What sig? Do I have to have a sig!?!?
JESUS cares about those dirty rocks, you insensitive clod!
I'm having a hard time believing that "no one cares about some dirty rocks under the ocean" makes up a full half of the only knowledge that truly matters.
I was going to switch to one of those plastic blow up dolls until I found out that they're loaded with carbon too!
Engineering is the art of compromise.
For next-generationcarbon dating, try eCarbony.com
Don't get me wrong, the world would be a great place of everyone followed the advice of Jesus
That's for sure! If everyone learned to turn the other cheek it would be so much easier to overpower and enslave them all and run the place! MUWAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Have you ever watched The Bible is Repulsive? It's a great 15 minutes. Spare it. You won't regret it.
I used this video one time while talking to a fundamentalist. We were downtown, there was a gay rights parade (I'm a left-coaster) and the usual fundamentalist Christians on the other side of the street. Several blocks away, I struck up a conversation with a guy who was hanging around.
I guess it was because I'm obviously hetero, and fairly well-dressed, short hair, etc. because he assumed that I was on the Christian Fundamentalist side. I joshed with him for a while, talked about the wife, the kids, working, paying bills, blah blah blah. I mentioned something about strictly following the good book, and tisked about the guys down the street. He was very adamant that we should "follow the good book".
Having planted that seed, I got the kids into the conversation again a little while later. I started in with how I have lots of kids (I do) and how they sometimes misbehave. He agreed, and then I talked about what do you do about it? How do you keep your kids in line!?!? You have important values you want to teach! and he was with me all the way.
And then I said:
"It's a good thing that the good book thought of this, two. When my oldest son snuck out and smoked a joint with his buddies, I grabbed some bricks and killed him, right there on the spot". I played it perfectly, too! He was speechless. "Yeah, I believe that the good book should be taken literally, and it's pretty clear, right there in the Deuteronomy, when your children misbehave, you stone them to death".
As he cursed and walked away, I hollered out: "And the cops haven't even investigated! It's been 2 years now!"
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in all my life...
I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.