ScienceJune 30, 2026
radiocarbon
ˌreɪdiəʊˈkɑːrbən
Definition
A radioactive isotope of carbon used in scientific analysis to track and distinguish between different sources of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
Etymology
The word is a compound of 'radio-', derived from the Latin 'radius' (ray/beam), and 'carbon', from the Latin 'carbo' (coal). It was coined in the 20th century to describe radioactive forms of the element carbon.
In the news
In the article, radiocarbon measurements serve as a high-accuracy, validated method used to verify the legitimacy of emissions data against competing AI models. It acts as a scientific benchmark to ensure climate tracking remains grounded in objective, physical evidence.
Climate change models mis-estimated vehicle emissions for years, and scientists now know why
Read the full article ↗Yahoo