Absolute dating is a scientific method used to determine the exact age of an object or event in years. This technique often relies on the decay of radioactive isotopes, such as carbon-14, which is used to date organic materials. By measuring the amount of a radioactive isotope remaining in a sample, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the organism died. Another common method of absolute dating is thermoluminescence, which measures the accumulated radiation dose in minerals. This technique is useful for dating pottery and sediments. Overall, absolute dating provides a more precise age compared to relative dating, which only indicates whether an object is older or younger than another.