Existence

If time was the "cause" of decay, then all elements in a given timeframe should experience the same decay. They don't, of course.(I would have said, "Short answer, instability.") All decay is just change from one format to another. When dead organisms decay, it's just a rearrangement of atoms.Edited by ringo, : Spelling: "delay" --> "decay", an uncommon instance in which the error could actually cause confusion.

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If you have nothing to say, you could have done so much more concisely. -- Dr Adequate

Those ancient records don't propose a mechanism either, nor do they even suggest a method by which a mechanism could be discovered. I expect that the scientific method is more likely to come up with a mechanism than poring over ancient records.

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If you have nothing to say, you could have done so much more concisely. -- Dr Adequate