The bomb pulse is a fascinating scientific phenomenon that traces back to the era of nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s. When countries tested atomic bombs in the atmosphere, they released a massive amount of radioactive carbon-14 (¹⁴C) into the air. This sudden spike in carbon-14 levels became known as the “bomb pulse.”
How It Happened
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Normally, carbon-14 is produced naturally in the atmosphere in small amounts.
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During nuclear bomb tests, huge quantities of carbon-14 were released, doubling its level in the air by the early 1960s.
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After above-ground testing was banned in 1963, carbon-14 levels began to slowly decline as the isotope got absorbed by plants, animals, oceans, and soils.
Why the Bomb Pulse Matters
The bomb pulse has become an unexpected scientific tool:
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Forensic Science: It can help determine the age of human tissues, such as identifying the year a person was born or when a tooth or hair grew.
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Biology: Researchers use it to study cell turnover and how fast certain organs renew themselves.
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Environmental Studies: It helps track how carbon moves through the atmosphere, oceans, and ecosystems.
Interesting Fact
Every person alive during or after the bomb tests carries traces of this carbon-14 signature in their body. In a way, we all have a tiny “timestamp” from the nuclear age inside us.