How Do We Know How Old the Earth Is?

Head to www.acs.org/ncw30years to find out more about National Chemistry Week!

This week Reactions wonders how do we know how old the earth is? What's its age? Chemistry and science is how we know.

Since there’s no “established in” plaque stuck in a cliff somewhere, geologists deduced the age of the Earth thanks to a handful of radioactive elements. With radiometric dating, scientists can put an age on really old rocks — and even good old Mother Earth. For the 30th anniversary of National Chemistry Week, this edition of Reactions describes how scientists date rocks.

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Writer:
Sam Lemonick

Producer:
Sean Parsons

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Narrator:
Kyle Nackers

Co-Writer/Scientific consultant:
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.


Scientific consultant:
Pieter Vermeesch, Ph.D.

References:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2001.190.01.14
http://apps.usd.edu/esci/creation/age/content/current_scientific_clocks/lead_isotopes.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-science-figured-out-the-age-of-the-earth/
https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/gtime/ageofearth.html#age
http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/lectures/age_of_the_earth/age_of_the_earth.html
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/12/3/pdf/i1052-5173-12-3-16.pdf
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/03/06/dear-science-how-do-we-know-how-old-the-earth-is/
https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others' butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it's OK to pee in the pool? We've got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day.

Reactions is produced by the American Chemical Society.

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