Cloudy carbon theory
Published: Mon, Sep. 15, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Mon, Sep. 15, 2008 01:40AM
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closeThe Sept. 8 letter "Dating the shroud" accused unspecified scientists of some extremely bogus ideas.
The writer claimed that there is a theory that such a thing as "newer carbon generated during fiery events." This is entirely bogus unless those "fiery events" occurred in solar and other radiation or in a so-called atom-smasher. Fires do not create new carbon; ask any physicist.
The writer also suggested that "powerful radiations [sic] from the resurrection event must have generated C-14 [Carbon-14, used in dating]." Pretty powerful radiation indeed! Again, ask any physicist. And where is the evidence that a "resurrection event" includes radiation of any kind?
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Finally, the writer claimed that images of coins from around 31 AD imply a date close to 31 AD. Actually, they would imply a date on or after 31 AD; ask any archeologist. Such coins exist today, which is certainly after 31 AD.
I believe the letter used the term "scientist" loosely, perhaps only to mean "researcher." Such loose language is an insult to real scientists.
David Moffat
Chapel Hill
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