Claim CD004:
Cosmic rays and free neutrinos, such as might be produced by nearby
supernovas or the reversal of the earth's magnetic field, might affect the
decay rates of radioactive elements, invalidating such radiometric dating
methods as carbon-14, uranium-lead, and potassium-argon.
Source:
Morris, Henry M., 1974. Scientific Creationism, Green Forest, AR: Master
Books, pp. 142-143,146.
Response:
- Where is there the slightest bit of evidence that cosmic rays or
neutrinos do affect decay rates? The following show the contrary:
- Inside standard nuclear fission power generators, neutrino radiation
is intense, but the uranium that is not fissioned decays at the
usual rate.
- Some spacecraft are powered by nuclear decays. Some of them fly in
very intense cosmic ray fields (like near Jupiter). If cosmic rays
affected decay rates, the power generated would be different from
expectations.
- To get unweathered rocks, rocks for radiometric dating are usually
taken from some depth into an outcrop, where cosmic rays have
insignificant effect.
- Radiation high enough to affect nuclear decay rates by several orders
of magnitude (a change great enough to allow young-earth timescales)
would sterilize the planet.
- Reversals of the earth's magnetic field do not produce cosmic rays or
neutrinos. They may allow more cosmic rays to reach the earth's
surface, but not much beyond that, and most rocks used for dating have
been buried for most of their history.
- Carbon-14 dating is calibrated by independent
clocks.
Further Reading:
Young, Davis A., 1988. Christianity and the Age of the Earth.
Thousand
Oaks, CA: Artisan Sales.
created 2003-8-13, modified 2004-9-8
