Methane produced in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is distinguishable from ancient sources of methane by using _________.

Question

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Methane produced in the late 20th and early 21st centuries can be distinguished from ancient sources of methane by using isotopes, specifically the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope that has a half-life of about 5,700 years, so any methane produced from ancient sources would have less carbon-14 compared to modern methane. This allows scientists to differentiate between the two sources of methane. Molecular markers to detect SNPs from ancient microorganisms and testing remains of decaying animals are not used to distinguish between ancient and modern methane.

Methane Produced in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries