isotopic signatures

Isotopic signatures refer to the specific ratios of different versions (isotopes) of elements, like carbon or oxygen, found in substances. These ratios act like fingerprints, revealing information about where a sample came from, how it formed, or its history. For example, plants using different water sources or animals consuming various foods leave unique isotopic patterns. Scientists analyze these signatures in samples like rocks, ice, or biological tissues to study processes like climate change, migration, or environmental conditions. In essence, isotopic signatures provide insightful clues about natural processes based on tiny differences in atomic arrangements.