>  JS> > Any sample of a material will contain not only the base atoms but
 >  JS> > isotopes of the elements as well.  So, if you take your basic
 >  JS> > stainless steel ashtray and analyze it, you'll find iron (carbon,
 >  JS> > chromium, et al) and isotopes of iron (and the others, of course)
 >  JS> > consistant with their occurance in nature on the world on which
 >  JS> > that ashtray was made.
 >  JS> So what you are saying is, even if the "alien ashtray" were made of
 >  JS> similar metals found here on earth, we could tell that it was
 >  JS> "unearthly" in origin?
 >  We could not be completely sure.....but when have we ever been?
Then, this means that any skeptic worth his salt could say (despite
the isotope ratio), that the alleged alien ashtray didn't prove a
thing!
"False alarm, folks! ...Return to your coop!"
Regards,
Jack
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