The discussion revolves around the concept of a boron ion battery and the potential for utilizing neutrons in energy production. Participants explore the nuclear reactions involving boron-11 and the implications of cosmic neutron bombardment on this idea, touching on theoretical and experimental aspects.
The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the feasibility of using boron and neutrons for energy production, as well as differing opinions on the constancy of carbon-14 production in the atmosphere.
Participants reference various assumptions about nuclear reactions and the historical consistency of carbon-14 production, but these assumptions are not universally accepted or verified within the discussion.
Do you have a reference? This is impossible.Originally posted by S = k log w
Good point. What happens in a nuclear reaction? B[11] + one neutron
does yields C[12] + N
The Earth's upper atmosphere is being bombarded by neutrons. The following is a quote from a textbook: "High energy cosmic particles particles[this includes protons and nuetrons] shatter the nuclei of oxygen and nitrogen atoms there releasing neutrons which in turn produce C[14] when they collide with other nitrogin atoms."Originally posted by S = k log w
Thank you. I had erred when I had stated that the Earth was being bombarded by Neutrons.
Originally posted by birdus
The Earth's upper atmosphere is being bombarded by neutrons. The following is a quote from a textbook: "High energy cosmic particles particles[this includes protons and nuetrons] shatter the nuclei of oxygen and nitrogen atoms there releasing neutrons which in turn produce C[14] when they collide with other nitrogin atoms."
The C[14] produced is absorbed by plants and animals. When they die they stop absorbing C[14]. The C[14] decays to C[12] over time. Later, some know-it-all physicist measures the ratio of C[12] to C[14] and determines how long ago the thing died. This is of course based on the assumption that C[14] production in the upper atmosphere has been constant. Unfortunately, we now know that it hasn't been.
Originally posted by birdus
The Earth's upper atmosphere is being bombarded by neutrons. The following is a quote from a textbook: "High energy cosmic particles particles[this includes protons and nuetrons] shatter the nuclei of oxygen and nitrogen atoms there releasing neutrons which in turn produce C[14] when they collide with other nitrogin atoms."
The C[14] produced is absorbed by plants and animals. When they die they stop absorbing C[14]. The C[14] decays to C[12] over time. Later, some know-it-all physicist measures the ratio of C[12] to C[14] and determines how long ago the thing died. This is of course based on the assumption that C[14] production in the upper atmosphere has been constant. Unfortunately, we now know that it hasn't been.
Data from ocean floor sediments, icecores, and such as proven that the C[14] production has not been constant. Extentensive research on tree rings has been going on over the last decade or two to develope correction charts. When I took physical anthropology we were required to do some homework problems to determine the C[14] age of something. To arrive at the solution we had to use a correction chart. The chart showed wide swings in the C[14] over the centuries.Originally posted by Chemicalsuperfreak
What are you talking about? It's been shown that the amount of C14 produced in the atmosphere has been constant at least as long as Carbon dating is good for.