Three first-ever atomic nuclei created at NSCL; new super-heavy aluminum isotopes may exist

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Page from an NSCL logbook used in the experiment that successfully created three super-heavy isotopes of magnesium and aluminum. The partially visible scrawled phrase Let the celebrations begin reflects the excitement about the discovery. Credit: NSC ...
Page from an NSCL logbook used in the experiment that successfully created three super-heavy isotopes of magnesium and aluminum. The partially visible scrawled phrase "Let the celebrations begin!" reflects the excitement about the discovery. Credit: NSCL

Researchers at Michigan State University’s National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, NSCL, have created three never-before-observed isotopes of magnesium and aluminum. The results not only stake out new territory on the nuclear landscape, but also suggest that variants of everyday elements might exist that are heavier than current scientific models predict.


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All News summaries for October 24, 2007

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