Changes

''See also [[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]].''

''See also [[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]].''

The '''Age of the Earth''' has been a matter of interest to humans for millennia. The subject is still debated today, particularly between [[young Earth Creationism|young-Earth scientists]], who believe that the Earth is only approximately 6,000-10,000 years old, and [[Old Earth Creationism|Old Earth creationists]] who explain that Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref> The scientific evidence points to an old Earth, and not the biblical creation. [http://www.interacademies.net/10878/13901.aspx]

The '''Age of the Earth''' has been a matter of interest to humans for millennia. The subject is still debated today, particularly between [[young Earth Creationism|young-Earth scientists]], who believe that the Earth is only approximately 6,000-10,000 years old, and scientists who explain that Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref> The scientific evidence points to an old Earth, and not the biblical creation. [http://www.interacademies.net/10878/13901.aspx]

The slight flaw in Old Earth arguments is their reliance on the assumption that the [[Radiometric dating|rate of radioactive decay]] remains constant over billions of years. In fact, a large number of physical processes, such as neutron capture and fluctuations in solar radiation, can affect the rate of radioactive decay of elements in the Earth's crust and render radioactive dating measurements unreliable with errors up to 5%, depending upon the specific methods used. However, this 5% difference is mediocre when compared to billions of years.<ref>http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899536205000138#bib6</ref>  

The slight flaw in Old Earth arguments is their reliance on the assumption that the [[Radiometric dating|rate of radioactive decay]] remains constant over billions of years. In fact, a large number of physical processes, such as neutron capture and fluctuations in solar radiation, can affect the rate of radioactive decay of elements in the Earth's crust and render radioactive dating measurements unreliable with errors up to 5%, depending upon the specific methods used. However, this 5% difference is mediocre when compared to billions of years.<ref>http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899536205000138#bib6</ref>