Carbon isotope analysis is an analytical method that quantifies the relative abundance of stable carbon isotopes, primarily ¹²C and ¹³C, in a sample to infer biogeochemical processes, sources, and pathways of carbon. Typically using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) or, less commonly, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, the technique measures δ¹³C values relative to international standards (e.g., VPDB). Sample preparation may involve combustion or decarbonation to isolate CO₂, followed by purification and introduction into the instrument. Carbon isotope analysis is widely applied in ecology, geochemistry, climate reconstruction, and forensic science to distinguish between carbon pools, metabolic pathways, and provenance.
Roughly 2.5–2 billion years ago, Earth's surface experienced the biggest chemical change in its history when oxygen became abundant in the atmosphere, eventually leading to the evolution of complex life forms such as plants ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 10, 2026
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Deeply rooted perennial plants may help build soil carbon (C) stocks, but most research has focused on shallow soils, resulting in gaps in our understanding of how the balance between decomposition and C inputs shifts and ...
Agriculture
Aug 4, 2026
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A map showing the distribution of isotopes in Amazonian tree wood can help identify illegally harvested timber. By analyzing the ratio of different isotopes of elements such as oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and strontium, researchers ...
Environment
Jul 31, 2026
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Permafrost in the Arctic stores large quantities of organic carbon. When frozen ground thaws or coastal sections erode, this carbon can enter the sea, where microorganisms can break it down and convert it into climate-damaging ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 31, 2026
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It started as a joke. Representatives of menswear brand MJ Bale had spent three days in a design sprint with CSIRO scientists trying to nail what kind of tool the company needed to prove its sustainability credentials.
Environment
Jul 7, 2026
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Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water and oil. However, these same properties ...
Environment
Jul 1, 2026
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Atmospheric methane levels have surged to record highs in recent years and are projected to increase by as much as 13% by 2030, according to a report from the Climate & Clean Air Coalition. As scientists work to better understand ...
Earth Sciences
May 13, 2026
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Madagascar is home to seven species of baobab trees, of which six are found nowhere else on the planet. Many of the trees have been alive for well over 1,000 years. The ancient trees have become symbols of Madagascar itself. ...
Environment
Apr 20, 2026
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31
Two University of Victoria (UVic) geologists have integrated field geology with statistical modeling to give scientists a new view of the chemical reactions happening on ocean floors billions of years ago. The revised picture ...
Environment
Mar 20, 2026
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185
How is carbon metabolized and processed in different ecosystems? In a study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, researchers led by Joely Maak, the study's first author and researcher in the Cluster ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 9, 2026
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