Radiocarbon dating, a method of age determination that depends upon the decay to nitrogen of radiocarbon (carbon-14), has been central to fields like archaeology and geology for decades. Originated by Willard Libby in the late 1940s and having earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1960, this method hinges on the fact that cosmogenic carbon-14 is continuously created in the atmosphere and assimilated by living organisms.

Scientific Basis of Carbon-14 Dating

Carbon-14 dating is predicated on the understanding that once an organism dies, it no longer intakes carbon, marking the cessation of its carbon-14 uptake. From this point, the carbon-14 it contains begins to decay at a known rate, the half-life of about 5730 years. Measuring the remaining carbon-14 content in a sample versus its expected level if the organism had continued living provides an estimate of the time since the organism's death.

Factors Influencing Accuracy

Several factors can influence the accuracy of the radiocarbon dating method. These include contamination, the precision of the measurement tools, and variations in atmospheric carbon-14 levels through time. Modern techniques involve calibration curves designed to adjust for these variations, enhancing the method's accuracy.

The Limitations of Radiocarbon Dating

Despite its profound utility, radiocarbon dating isn't infallible. Its efficacy diminishes significantly for samples over 50,000 years old because of the minimal amount of carbon-14 left. Furthermore, materials that have been preserved in water or those lacking organic carbon, such as metals, cannot be dated using this method.