Explainers
How Radiometric Dating Works: Choosing Between Carbon-14, Potassium-Argon, and Uranium-Lead
Radiometric dating determines the age of materials by measuring the decay rate of radioactive isotopes into stable daughter products. The choice of method, such as Carbon-14, Potassium-Argon, or Uranium-Lead, depends on the sample's composition and its estimated age, ranging from recent organic remains to Earth's oldest geological formations.
Marcus Cole·November 11, 2026
