A Random Walk Through Time

Abstract

A celebration is in order: the journal Radiocarbon is now a mature 50 years without drastic changes in its identity. There have been, of course, additions in terms of specific isotopes (it is now an international journal of cosmogenic isotope research), but the 14C content is still very extensive. The triannual offshoots, conference proceedings (started in 1980), and calibration issues (the first in 1986) testify to the strength of the 14C component. The following notes discuss a few historical aspects of my participation in the journal and its field of science. Some personal notes are also included. Advanced age (1% 14C decay would not be far off) is usually a good excuse for these wanderings.