[Conservative Coulter Fan]

One of the most exciting discoveries was presented by Dr. John Baumgardner, Professor of Geophysics. Baumgardner provided evidence that diamonds and coal possess large amounts of radioactive carbon (carbon-14). Carbon-14 is believed to be a short-lived isotope and is commonly used for dating organic materials like fossils. This radioactive form of carbon is believed to have a half-life of only 5,730 years, so finding C-14 in diamonds (as much as one hundred times the detection threshold) is very compelling evidence for a young Earth. Baumgardner indicated that their findings also supported the biblical account of the Noahic Flood.

RATE Project Manager Dr. Larry Vardiman summarized the results of the entire team. After years of scientific research, the team discovered:

1. Conventional radioisotope dating methods are inconsistent and therefore not reliable.In dating the same rock layer, radioisotope dating showed four different ages.
2. Substantial amounts of helium found in crystals within granite.If the Earth evolved over billions of years, the helium should have already escaped.
3. Radiohalos in rocks caused by the decay of uranium and polonium, which strongly suggests a rapid decay rate, not gradual decay over billions of years.
4. Diamonds thought to be millions/billions of years old by evolutionists contain significant levels of carbon-14. Since carbon-14 decays quickly, none should have been found in the diamonds if the evolutionary age is correct (see “RATE News Release,” 2005).

The RATE team also released their newly-produced documentary film Thousands... Not Billions during the San Diego conference. The title of the new documentary is shared by a book written by Don DeYoung that examines the physical evidence for a young Earth. DeYoung’s non-technical book helps people understand what the RATE team discovered. (For those interested in reading about the scientific evidences of a young Earth in an easy-to-understand book, I recommend DeYoung’s work.) The dramatic findings reported by the RATE team support not only a young Earth, but they also confirm the reliability of Scriptures. The only question is what will an honest man do with the evidence?

[nuke rocketeer]

How about the speed of light and the distances to all stars, galaxies, etc that are over 6010light years from Earth?

[Coyoteman]

I'm familiar with the RATE project. They have a specific goal in mind and only find evidence that supports that goal. They are not doing science.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have on radiocarbon dating.

[Doctor Stochastic]

After retiring from Los Alamos, Dr. Baumgardner now serves as professor of geophysics and space physics at the Institute for Creation Research.