Question: Is it possible to find radiocarbon in dinosaur fossils?

The recent discovery of radiocarbon in dinosaur bones at first seems incompatible with an age of millions of years, due to the short half-life of radiocarbon. However, evidence from isotopes other than radiocarbon shows that dinosaur fossils are indeed millions of years old.

Has a complete dinosaur fossil been found?

Scientists have revealed the worlds first ever complete T-rex skeleton – found after it fell to its death in a deadly duel with a triceratops. Each of the 67-million-year-old remains are among the best ever found and have only been seen by a select few people since they were discovered in 2006.

Can radiocarbon dating be used to determine the age of dinosaur fossils?

The most widely known form of radiometric dating is carbon-14 dating. This is what archaeologists use to determine the age of human-made artifacts. But carbon-14 dating wont work on dinosaur bones. Dinosaur bones, on the other hand, are millions of years old -- some fossils are billions of years old.

Do fossils have carbon?

This uses radioactive minerals that occur in rocks and fossils almost like a geological clock. While people are most familiar with carbon dating, carbon dating is rarely applicable to fossils. Carbon-14, the radioactive isotope of carbon used in carbon dating has a half-life of 5730 years, so it decays too fast.

What is bigger than a Tyrannosaurus rex?

The water-loving Spinosaurus had a spiny “sail” on its back, and a crocodile-like head, neck and tail, but was much larger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex. At 50 feet long, its the largest carnivore to walk (and swim) the Earth… that we know of.

Reach out

Find us at the office

Kilbourn- Heiniger street no. 27, 89231 Papeete, French Polynesia

Give us a ring

Tyjah Lebre
+94 417 889 988
Mon - Fri, 9:00-19:00

Join us