Radiocarbon dating, which is used to calculate the age of certain organic materials, has been found to be unreliable, and sometimes wildly so - a discovery that could upset previous studies on climate change, scientists from China and Germany said in a new paper.

What are the problems with radiocarbon dating?

Summary: Radiocarbon dating is a key tool archaeologists use to determine the age of plants and objects made with organic material. But new research shows that commonly accepted radiocarbon dating standards can miss the mark -- calling into question historical timelines.

Can bones last for millions of years?

Our bones arent soft like the rest of our bodies, so they are less susceptible to deterioration and rot. But if every bone or tooth lasted forever, they could be found in every inch of the earth. Some bones last millions of years while others can deteriorate in less than a decade.