The fatal flaw with radioactive dating methods

CMI ^ | July 30, 2009 | Tas Walker, Ph.D.

[GodGunsGuts]

The fatal flaw with radioactive dating methods

--snip--

This illustrates the problem with the radioactive dating of geological events. Those who promote the reliability of the method spend a lot of time impressing you with the technical details of radioactive decay, half-lives, mass-spectroscopes, etc. But they don’t discuss the basic flaw in the method: you cannot determine the age of a rock using radioactive dating because...

[mnehring]

Prove that the rate of decay WAS always the same as claimed.

That's simple, it is reproduced in the lab every day and observed. We also can test objects of a known age, such as when specific monuments where built or burnt areas in the tree ring history. It is shown through observation and testing.

Add to that, exactly how much mother material there was to start with and when it occurred so that we are able to make precise and accurate calculations.

Some specific isotopes are created specifically from this decay. They aren't isotopes found in nature outside this process.

Count backwards? shakes head in disbelief.....

Here is a simpler analogy. You started typing this comment and I have a recording of it. I want to know when you started typing, so I look at the time now, then I watch the recording and see how long it is. That gives me the start time.

Besides, you just contradicted yourself...Does it vary like you said here?

Poor wording on my part, I should have said factors that impact results, not variances in the actual decay rates. For example, a common misused 'proof' that it is flawed is seal carcasses in the arctic sometimes showing to be millions of years old even though they are recently killed. The rate of decay didn't change, however, we know that there is a certain amount of dissolved carbon dioxide in the water from ancient deposits. That is a known factor and is taken into account with the results. The actual decay didn't change but the amount of additional carbon from outside, older sources has to be accounted for.

[saganite]

Hey, I’ve had dates like that. You think she’s a nice girl and suddenly-boom! She’s trying to run your life!

Oh wait, I wandered into the creationist ghetto again. See ya!

[RFEngineer]

“http://www.noanswersingenesis.org.au/critique_of_tas_walker%27s_flood_geology.htm";

Fatal flaw in Dr. Tas Walker.....

All “creation science” is a lie.......

[GodGunsGuts]

LOL...Good eye Metom!!!

[LeGrande]

PC99 - Even if true ... doesn’t advance the supernatural theory that the magical Hebrew God created the Universe 5,000 years ago.

Publius6961 - Without reading the posted article, I can be sure that the poster made no such claim.

Actually GGG does make that claim : ) I happen to play a game that is older than GGG's universe.

[mnehring]

Corrected in the last part of 41, admitted poor wording on my part.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

No one is saying that the Hebrew God created the universe 5000 years ago. Just that the yardsticks used by many scientists are not reliable, that there is no standard measure by which to calibrate them.

[Beagle8U]

Radioactive dating?

A conservative with beer goggles takes home hippie chick?

[facedown]

You see, in your anaology the child actually witnessed the toy before it was covered up, in the case of radiactive dating, they never saw the starting point.

The point of the analogy is that you folks still think the toy is missing because you can't see it.

[OldGuard1]

And your rebuttal is...?

And

And your rebuttal is...?

Wait a minute -- are you sincerely asking for a rebuttal to your statement, "Another straw-man post from, the coloring book spams."? I made a criticism of radioactive dating, you made an ad-hominem, I asked for an *actual* rebuttal to my argument, and you want me to "rebut" your "coloring book" statement? How ridiculous can you Darwinists get?

[LeGrande]

No one is saying that the Hebrew God created the universe 5000 years ago. Just that the yardsticks used by many scientists are not reliable, that there is no standard measure by which to calibrate them.

LOL actually GGG has said precisely that.

[org.whodat]

Now the name calling!!

[headsonpikes]

You are spoiling all the fun with this so-called “science”.

Science doesn’t belong here, troll!

This is a science-free zone!

[OldGuard1]

Then you can show how that could have changed

Very simple: a change in fundamental constants, just as physicists are already claiming is happening or has happened with other constants.

reproduce that in a lab

How do you expect me to change fundamental constants in the lab? And while you're at it, recreate the transition from a bacteria to a human in the lab.

[GodGunsGuts]

From the article that you obviously never bothered to read or understand:

“you cannot measure the age of a rock using radioactive dating because no-one was present to measure the radioactive elements when the rock formed and no-one monitored the way those elements changed over its entire geological history”

Do you see how your analogy breaks down from the get-go, Facedown? If not, let me know, and I’ll try to explain it with smaller words that even the child in your analogy could understand.

[metmom]

I know, I know, the argument is “the rate of decay was not always the same”. OK, prove it. Specifically how or what caused the rate of decay to change and can that be reproduced?

And is your post an example of the intellectual scientific debate that evos bemoan is lacking on FR?

[metmom]

Hey, I’ve had dates like that. You think she’s a nice girl and suddenly-boom! She’s trying to run your life! Oh wait, I wandered into the creationist ghetto again. See ya!

And is your post an example of the intellectual scientific debate that evos bemoan is lacking on FR?

I hate it when the copy button doesn't copy.....:(

[saganite]

There isn’t any scientific debate on these Evo threads so your question is meaningless.

[OldGuard1]

Ira: The downside of just copying your arguments off the web (in particular, from the ASA) is that there are already rebuttals out there.

A Christian Response to Radiometric dating by Dr. Tasman B. Walker.

[xcamel]

And using the generic walmart brand crayons to fill it in...