Scientific Illiteracy in Films

[57r.1283]

"Carbon-dated to 65,000,000 BC"

"Transformers Extinction" (2014)

Sorry, but carbon dating does not go nearly
THAT far back - maybe just 50,000 years.
"Humans" are about 300,000 years old, so
the technique won't even cover that span.

However, by having a fairly narrow range,
carbon-isotope dating CAN be fairly precise
for "recent" artifacts.

There ARE isotope methods that will go back
65,000,000 years, but carbon isotopes won't
get you there.

Thing is, everybody has HEARD of "carbon
dating" - so the term is widely used in
film and story even if inappropriate
because it "sounds scientific".

Of course the WORST exercises in scientific
illiteracy are in those "super-hero" movies.
Sir Issac must be spinning at about 9999-RPM
in his grave at this point :-)

Sorry, man in iron armor hits stationary object
at 250 MPH = SPAM IN THE CAN folks .....

The ANNOYING bit is that such stuff is so EASY
to Get RIGHT - thus contributing to public
scientific literacy.