SGS Beta Updates

SGS Beta 2026 Holiday / Lab Closure Schedule

  • November 19
  • November 26-27 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
  • December 24, 2026 – January 1, 2027 (all dates inclusive) – Christmas and New Year
  • Beta Analytic is now part of SGS North America

    Beta Analytic in Miami, Florida, is now one of the laboratories in the Industries & Environment division of SGS in North America.

    Radiocarbon Dating DIC and DOC in Water

    Radiocarbon Dating Water DIC & DOC
    REGISTER HERE (FREE)
    Live Webinar: November 16, 2023 – 2 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

    Is Ice Core Dating Reliable?

    Ice cores are a vital archive used in paleoclimatology — tracing temperature variability and atmospheric chemical composition. They are a build-up of snow (either in polar regions or high altitudes) occurring on annual cycles, resulting in distinct layers of ice which show seasonal variations (in the uncompacted surface material).

    Carbon-14 & Stable Isotope Analyses of Marine and Freshwater Carbonates

    Carbonates are widely used in geology, paleoclimatology and paleontology as the oxygen and carbon therein are foundational for radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analyses.

    Radiocarbon (14C) in Terrestrial & Marine Environments

    Radiocarbon is integrated into carbon-bearing organisms during their lifetime. Radiocarbon is formed in the upper atmosphere through the reaction between cosmic rays and nitrogen (14N), forming three different types of carbon – one radioactive form (14C) as well as two stable forms (12C, 13C). 

    How to Identify Sources of Pollution using Sr and B Isotopes

    Live webinar: April 20, 2023 * Available on demand * 
    Speaker: Maren Pauly, PhD (Beta Analytic & Isobar Science Scientific Associate)

    Comment prévenir la contamination des carottes stockées pour une future datation au radiocarbone

    Il peut y avoir des problèmes rencontrés lors de la datation des carottes (fraction de sédiments organiques) qui ont été stockées pendant de longues périodes en fonction des conditions de stockage.

    Join our Free Webinar on Isotopes in Marine Environments

    Isotopes & Dating in Marine Environments
    REGISTER HERE (FREE)
    Live Webinar: Oct. 25, 2022 – Available on Demand
    Speaker: Maren Pauly, PhD (Beta Analytic & Isobar Science Scientific Associate)
    * Also available with Simplified Chinese subtitles *

    Free Webinar: What is Biogenic Apatite?

    Biogenic Apatite: Oxygen Isotope Analysis
    REGISTER HERE
    Live Webinar: Sept. 20, 2022 * Available on demand *
    Speaker: Maren Pauly, PhD (Beta Analytic & Isobar Science Scientific Associate)

    Do you need Carbon-14 dating or U-Th dating for bones?

    Undecided which method is best for your bone samples?
    Watch this on-demand webinar for FREE.
    Isotope Applications: Bone Samples in Archaeology
    Presenter: Maren Pauly, PhD (Beta Analytic & Isobar Science Scientific Associate)

    Factors to Consider when Dating Bones – Join an ACRA Webinar

    ACRA Webinar Invitation: A Focus on Bones
    REGISTER HERE for a fee
    Live Webinar: April 14, 2022
    Presenters: Prof. James Watson (Arizona State Museum Associate Director) & Maren Pauly, PhD (Beta Analytic Scientific Associate)

    Join a Webinar on Migration Studies & Geographic Origin

    REGISTER HERE (FREE)
    Live Webinar: April 6, 2022 * Available on Demand *
    Speaker: Maren Pauly, PhD

    Radiocarbon Dating Bones Contaminated with PVA

    Bones contaminated with polyvinyl acetate (PVA) require specialized pretreatment, such as solvent extractions, before radiocarbon dating. The success of the dating also varies if the bone has been soaked in PVA or if the PVA was applied in localized areas.

    Sediments Webinar: C14 Dating, U-Th Dating, Sr Analysis

    REGISTER HERE for FREE (available on demand)
    Topic: Sediments – Dating & Environmental Reconstructions
    Live Webinar: December 2, 2021
    Speaker: Dr. Maren Pauly, Scientific Associate at Beta Analytic and Isobar Science
    * Also available with Simplified Chinese subtitles *

    Free Webinar: Choosing Optimal Bone Samples for Analysis

    REGISTER HERE (available on demand)
    Topics include: Isotopes in dating, diets and migration studies
    Live Webinar: October 21, 2021
    Speaker: Dr. Maren Pauly, Scientific Associate at Beta Analytic and Isobar Science

    Beta Analytic Webinar: What is Paleoclimatology?

    REGISTER HERE for FREE (available on demand)
    Topics include: Isotopes in Dating and Climate-Proxy Relationships
    Live Webinar: September 22, 2021
    Speaker: Dr. Maren Pauly, Scientific Associate at Beta Analytic and Isobar Science

    Geochemical Fingerprinting Webinar: Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotopes

    Register here to view the FREE webinar “Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotopes” on demand.
    Live Webinar: June 24, 2021
    Speaker: Dr. Arash Sharifi

    View Beta’s Lead Isotopes and Applications Webinar

    Register here to view the free webinar “Introduction to Lead (Pb) Isotopes and Applications” on demand.
    Live Webinar: March 24, 2021
    Speakers: Dr. Maren Pauly and Dr. Arash Sharifi

    Application of Strontium Isotopes Webinar

    REGISTER HERE to view the FREE webinar on demand.
    Live Webinar: February 17, 2021
    Speakers: Dr. Arash Sharifi (Isobar Science VP of Lab Operations), Dr. Maren Pauly (Isobar Science Account Manager)
    * Also available with Simplified Chinese subtitles *

    Beta Analytic Photo Contest

    Congratulations to the winners – 1st place: Ms. Fernanda Charqueño (CENAC-PNNH, CONICET), 2nd place: Lucía Rivas (CONICET-YTEC), 3rd place: Romina Achaga (CIFICEN-UNICEN).

    Beta Analytic Webinar: U-Th or Carbon-14 Dating?

    Live Webinar: January 27, 2021 * Available on Demand (Free) *
    Speaker: Dr. Maren Pauly, Beta Analytic and Isobar Science account manager
    * Also available with Simplified Chinese subtitles *

    Beta’s Webinar on Boron Isotopic Analysis

    Live Webinar: November 12, 2020 – Available on Demand (Free)
    Speaker: Mr. Sean Ahearn, Beta Analytic’s project manager for water services.
    * Also available with Simplified Chinese subtitles *

    Beta’s Free Webinar on Dissolved Carbon

    Live webinar: August 12, 2020 – Available on Demand (Free)
    Speaker: Mr. Sean Ahearn, Beta Analytic’s project manager for water services.

    High-Quality Testing Services for Geotechnical Firms

    Radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis of water can be useful to geotechnical firms. While under a tight schedule to meet a client’s deadline, receiving ISO 17025-accredited analytical results in a timely manner can result in successful project outcomes.

    View our Free Webinar on Isotopes in Hydrology

    Live Webinar: May 27, 2020 * Free, Available on Demand * Speaker: Sean P. Ahearn, Beta Analytic’s Project Manager for water services

    Sr Ratios & U-Th Dating Services Now Available

    In 2020, Beta Analytic started to offer specialized isotope services for geochronology, geochemical fingerprinting, and environmental source tracking through its subsidiary Isobar Science.

    What Difference Does a C14 Lab’s Turnaround Time Make?

    Choosing a radiocarbon dating laboratory is not always easy; there are many factors to consider and often budgetary constraints to negotiate. An important factor in decision-making is how quickly the results are reported, particularly if there are deadlines to meet. Even when there is no impending deadline, a fast turnaround time can be important and lead to cost savings in the long run.

    Demand a Tracer-Free Laboratory for Radiocarbon Dating

    SGS Beta is a NATURAL LEVEL ISOTOPE LABORATORY. As part of its commitment to ensure the highest-quality results to its clients, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited SGS Beta does not, and has never, accepted samples for radiocarbon (14C) dating or the measurement of stable isotopes such as 13C, 12C, Nitrogen, Oxygen or Deuterium, that have in any way […]

    Beta Analytic – Tracer Free and No Subcontractors

    As part of its commitment to provide high-quality results to its clients, ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited Beta Analytic does not accept pharmaceutical samples with “tracer Carbon-14” or any other material containing artificial Carbon-14 to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination.

    Beta Analytic Q&A: Do you Accept Beeswax for AMS Dating?

    We have dated beeswax, sometimes with good success, sometimes not. This is because no pretreatment for organic contaminants can be applied. Thus, if any younger or older carbon has been incorporated in the beeswax, it will be represented in the result.