Nuclear Physics Explained S:1 E:23 Isotopes as Clocks and Fingerprints

S:1 E:23 Isotopes as Clocks and Fingerprints The steady rate at which unstable isotopes decay, known as their half-life, makes them ideal for dating objects. Identify the radioactive isotopes best-suited for establishing age, such as carbon-14 for organic remains from human history and uranium-238 for billion-year-old geological formations. Also, see how stable isotopes can be used for fraud detection and studying ancient climates.