Homonym: carbon-14 (Isotope)
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is formed in the atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen. It has a half-life of about 5,730 years, which means it takes that long for half of a sample of Carbon-14 to decay into Nitrogen-14. This property makes it useful for dating ancient organic materials.
Scientists use Carbon-14 dating to determine the age of archaeological artifacts, fossils, and other organic remains. By measuring the amount of Carbon-14 left in a sample, researchers can estimate when the organism died, providing valuable insights into historical timelines and environmental changes.