A detective from the past called carbon 14

The analysis is carried out using Radiometry or Accelerator mass spectrometry. After the system allowing to date the age of any organic rest - whether a fossil, a wood fragment, a parchment or a seed - is an isotope called carbon-14. An atom that comes from reactions nuclear produced in the atmosphere and cosmic-ray-induced they interact with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. This element they absorb it plants in photosynthesis and then passes to the animals remained almost unchanged during the life of the organism. to the meet the initial ratio of c-14 that had been in the atmosphere before his death, the remains that are left in it determine the elapsed time. (Author)