Carbon dating is a scientific method used to determine the age of organic materials, such as bones or wood. It works by measuring the amount of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, present in a sample. Living organisms continuously take in carbon from their environment, but when they die, they stop absorbing it. Over time, the carbon-14 decays at a known rate, allowing scientists to estimate how long it has been since the organism died. This technique is particularly useful for dating items that are up to about 50,000 years old. It has been instrumental in fields like archaeology and geology, helping researchers understand historical timelines and the age of ancient artifacts.