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→Rate of decay
=== Rate of decay ===
=== Rate of decay ===
As far as is known, the rate of decay of a radioactive material is largely constant.<ref>At least one example of a change in the rate has been observed in laboratory experiments. See ''[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1608/ Radioactive decay rate depends on chemical environment]''.</ref> This is based upon knowledge of [[quantum mechanics]] and the structure of the atom.<ref>''Principles of Quantum Mechanics'' page 89</ref><!-- I cannot find any YEC articles that suggest otherwise with any supporting evidence beyond conjecture. If any change is to be made, please refute with www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CF/CF210.html www.talkorigins.org/faqs/hovind/howgood-c14.html#R2 -- Furthermore, remember there is more than C14 out there.--> Atoms consist of a heavy central core called the [[nucleus]] surrounded by clouds of lightweight particles (electrons), called [[electron shell]]s. The energy locked in the nucleus is enormous, but cannot easily be released. The phenomenon we know as heat is simply the jiggling around of atoms and their components, so in principle a high enough temperature could cause the components of the core to break out. However, the temperature required to do this is in in the millions of degrees, so this cannot be achieved by any natural process that we know about. The second way that a nucleus could be disrupted is by particles striking it. However, the nucleus has a strong positive charge and the electron shells have a strong negative charge. Any incoming negative charge would be deflected by the electron shell and any positive charge that penetrated the electron shells would be deflected by the positive charge of the nucleus itself. Non-charged particles such as neutrons can penetrate to the nucleus and disrupt it (this is how a nuclear bomb works) but such a process will either cause more neutrons to emerge at a rapidly escalating rate—which would be very obvious to say the least—or it will fizzle out in a tiny fraction of a second. It thus seems very unlikely that radioactive decay rates can be altered without this being obvious.
As far as is known, the rate of decay of a radioactive material is largely constant.<ref>At least one example of a change in the rate has been observed in laboratory experiments. See ''[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1608/ Radioactive decay rate depends on chemical environment]''.</ref> This is based upon knowledge of [[quantum mechanics]] and the structure of the atom.<ref>''Principles of Quantum Mechanics'' page 89</ref><!-- I cannot find any YEC articles that suggest otherwise with any supporting evidence beyond conjecture. If any change is to be made, please refute with www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CF/CF210.html www.talkorigins.org/faqs/hovind/howgood-c14.html#R2 -- Furthermore, remember there is more than C14 out there.--> Atoms consist of a heavy central core called the [[nucleus]] surrounded by clouds of lightweight particles (electrons), called [[electron shell]]s. The energy locked in the nucleus is enormous, but cannot be released easily. The phenomenon we know as heat is simply the jiggling around of atoms and their components, so in principle a high enough temperature could cause the components of the core to break out. However, the temperature required to do this is in in the millions of degrees, so this cannot be achieved by any natural process that we know about. The second way that a nucleus could be disrupted is by particles striking it. However, the nucleus has a strong positive charge and the electron shells have a strong negative charge. Any incoming negative charge would be deflected by the electron shell and any positive charge that penetrated the electron shells would be deflected by the positive charge of the nucleus itself. Non-charged particles such as neutrons can penetrate to the nucleus and disrupt it (this is how a nuclear bomb works) but such a process will either cause more neutrons to emerge at a rapidly escalating rate—which would be very obvious to say the least—or it will fizzle out in a tiny fraction of a second. It thus seems very unlikely that radioactive decay rates can be altered without this being obvious.
=== Outside influences ===
=== Outside influences ===