Residue From Atomic Bomb Fallout Found To Help Determine Age Of Sea Turtles
- 8 years ago
Researchers from Duke University say residue from atomic bomb explosions is helping them understand the lives of sea turtles thanks to radiocarbon dating.
Residue from atomic bomb fallout in sea turtle shells can be used to date various aspects of the animals' populations, according to a study by researchers at Duke University and NOAA.
A write-up of the findings notes, "The scientists were able to estimate each turtle’s approximate age by comparing the bomb-testing radiocarbon accumulated in its shell to background rates of bomb-testing radiocarbon deposited in Hawaii’s corals. Levels of carbon-14 increased rapidly in the biosphere from the mid-1950s to about 1970 as a result of Cold War-era nuclear te
Residue from atomic bomb fallout in sea turtle shells can be used to date various aspects of the animals' populations, according to a study by researchers at Duke University and NOAA.
A write-up of the findings notes, "The scientists were able to estimate each turtle’s approximate age by comparing the bomb-testing radiocarbon accumulated in its shell to background rates of bomb-testing radiocarbon deposited in Hawaii’s corals. Levels of carbon-14 increased rapidly in the biosphere from the mid-1950s to about 1970 as a result of Cold War-era nuclear te