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.
A new analysis of chemical signatures measured by NASA's Curiosity Rover gives a peek at Mars's past to a time some 3.7 billion years ago, when it was warmer and wetter.
Astrobiology
Oct 29, 2025
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117
A team of scientists has uncovered a rare isotope in microscopic fossils, offering fresh evidence that ocean ecosystems may be more resilient than once feared.
Earth Sciences
Oct 2, 2025
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32
The Ordovician Period stands as a critical chapter in Earth's geological history, with carbon isotope records serving as both a key tool for stratigraphic correlation and a vital archive to unravel the coevolution of ancient ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 16, 2025
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23
Astronomers at Leiden University have detected rare isotopes of carbon and oxygen in our neighboring stars for the first time, providing a new path toward better understanding the chemical evolution of the cosmos. The results ...
Astronomy
Aug 26, 2025
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132
Teasing apart the sources of organic carbon stored in coastal wetland soils around the world was the "grand challenge" Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) scientists successfully tackled in a seminal blue carbon ...
Environment
Aug 19, 2025
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32
A new study has revealed for the first time that ancient carbon, stored in landscapes for thousands of years or more, can find its way back to the atmosphere as CO₂ is released from the surfaces of rivers.
Earth Sciences
Jun 4, 2025
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30
