Radiometric dating techniques

Radiometric dating measures the decay of radioactive isotopes within rocks or fossils to determine their age. Certain elements, like uranium or carbon, are unstable and naturally break down into stable elements over specific periods called half-lives. By measuring the amounts of parent and daughter isotopes in a sample and knowing the half-life, scientists can calculate how long the decay has been occurring, giving an estimate of the sample's age. This technique provides a way to date rocks and fossils accurately over millions or billions of years, helping us understand Earth's history.