Scientific dating methods

Scientific dating methods determine the age of artifacts and fossils based on measurable changes in materials over time. Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of carbon-14 in once-living things, useful for up to about 50,000 years. Other methods, like potassium-argon dating, analyze isotope decay in volcanic rocks to date much older fossils. Dendrochronology uses tree ring patterns to establish precise chronologies. These techniques rely on understanding natural decay rates or physical changes, allowing scientists to accurately estimate the timing of historical and prehistorical events.