One of the assumptions behind the use of radioactive dating is the idea that the rate of decay of radioactive elements is essentially constant over long periods of time. There are a number of problems with this assumption. One of the problems is identified in the linked article (link to article). As identified in the article, the apparent rate of decay seems to have a connection to the Earth's relationship to the Sun and perhaps the Earth's relationship to a slowly spinning core of the Sun. I'm sure that some folks will be quick to point out that the variation that has been noticed is periodic and is small. This seems to be true. Nevertheless, the point is that there is already some observed variation, and (so far) the cause of this variation is not known. There is speculation that it is caused by neutrinos, but bluntly put the scientists who are studying this are just guessing what the cause might be.
Furthermore, while scientists can observe these short term trends, scientists don't have the data to see whether there are long term (even on the order of 100 years) trends. They don't really know that radioactive decay is constant - that is assumed based on an apparent constancy at the present time.
And that assumption is open to very reasonable doubt.
- TurretinFan
Saturday, August 28, 2010
1 comment:
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yep, fascinating and tantalizing article, TF.
ReplyDeleteI will make some assumptions.
One, if it is true they have discovered an as yet unknown particle, there will arise a bit of jealousy within the hearts of those to whom it was discovered whose name it is not named! Whatever will it be named when it comes time to name it? Will it be the peter/ephraim particle? Or, how about the Purdue/Stanford particle? Of course you can see the various patterns emerging with my rationale, can't you?
I intentionally put peter before ephraim because the reverse is true! E comes before P in our common alphabet!
Now, two, for the carbon-14 dating system. I read an article in a scientific journal some years ago that revealed a little known phenomenon of volcanic explosions. Some scientists tested a Stetson hate found on or near the petrified body of a man who stubbornly refused to comply with law enforcement officials repeated requests to leave his cabin which was in the direct blast zone of Mount St. Helens. I emphasize the word repeated for obvious scientific reasons. Boom! The date of the hat after testing was something like 14 million years old! They found the two together just where they left them after warning him to leave the area cause the volcano was going to blow!
Carbon 14 dating is out of date!
Finally, three, if they do name the as yet undiscovered yet maybe discovered particle, whatever happens after that will have to be anachronistic in effect and will uncover some, as yet known or understood principle of creation science.
Still, I will proclaim this:
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Until this happens, Ecclesiastes 3:11 still holds true:::>
Rev 1:7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.