Scientists have determined the real age of the Earth

Scientists have long struggled to determine the exact age of the Earth, but recent research has brought us closer to it. The Indian Defense Review provides new insights into this field.

The latest article, published in the journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS), is devoted to the analysis of zircon in geochronology, the science that studies the age of the Earth through radioactive decay. By studying the decay of Uranium in ancient zircon crystals, researchers estimated the age of our planet at about 4.54 billion years.

Geologist Rudy Molyneux explains: “Uranium, known as the parent isotope, undergoes radioactive decay into lead, ejecting protons and neutrons from the nucleus of the atom. When lead is formed, the atom becomes stable and is no longer radioactive.”

The method used has a significant advantage: the decay of Uranium into lead occurs at a stable rate, which allows a reliable time scale for dating rocks and minerals. Zircon is especially valuable because it forms under conditions that retain Uranium and exclude lead, so zircon crystals preserve the original Uranium isotopes. They can be considered natural “time capsules”.

Zircon also allows scientists to understand the conditions under which the Earth formed. Very old crystals found in the Acasta Gneiss in Canada, dating back about 4.02 billion years, provide unique insights into the early history of the planet.

“Ancient Islands” in the Earth’s Interior

Recently, researchers discovered two large structures in the Earth’s mantle, comparable in size to continents, and believed to be more than 500 million years old. A study by Utrecht University found that these structures have much higher temperatures than the surrounding mantle, and their unique physical properties challenge traditional ideas about Earth’s structure.

Thus, studies of zircon and deep-mantle structures help scientists better understand not only the age of our planet but also the early processes that shaped it.

Recall that earlier, Ubisoft confirmed the development of a remake of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. It was also reported that Windows 12 will not be released, and ChatGPT will cooperate with the Pentagon.