tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310633442210374868.post3993645838150606240..comments2023-03-29T09:40:29.908-04:00Comments on Frum Heretic: Technical Interlude - Arguing from IgnoranceFrum Heretichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815538809825229710noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310633442210374868.post-88462948257978682312009-03-18T18:26:00.000-04:002009-03-18T18:26:00.000-04:00Minor issue: Even if the ratio of C-14/C-12 were n...Minor issue: Even if the ratio of C-14/C-12 were not changing you still wouldn't be able to use C-14 dating on objects less than a few hundred years old. The younger an object the less decay that has gone on and so the more of an issue with accurately measuring the remaining C-14 level enough for it to matter. Moreover, for sufficiently young, small, samples the simple probability issue could possibly come up: decay is a random process. It is only on the average that the decay rate is predictable. However, the vast majority of objects are old enough and have enough C-14 that this isn't an issue. For small younger objects that might not be the case. However my impression is that the technique is nowhere near refined enough for this to be anything other than a theoretical problem.Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637936588223855248noreply@blogger.com