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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist

USA
4955 Posts
Posted - 04/07/2010 :  12:13:41  Show Profile Send Cuneiformist a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The New York Times is reporting that scientists recently fashioned a new element, temporarily called ununseptium, an element with 117 protons.

According to the article, they made 6 atoms by smashing 48Ca into 249Bk. Five of the elements had 176 neutrons, and one had 177.

In any case, two things I found interesting were that Element 117 continues a trend of man-made elements lasting longer and longer and scientists hope that eventually they'll reach a so-called "island of stability" of elements with much larger nuclei and filled outer shells of protons and neutrons-- ca. 120 and 184 respectively.

The other thing I thought interesting was that these super heavy stable elements would have "chemical properties no one can predict."

This is quite tantalizing. Does anyone who sort of knows about such thing have any ideas about what things are even possible with these heavy elements that presumably (a) can last for a long time and (b) aren't killer-radioactive?

Ricky
SFN Die Hard

USA
4907 Posts
Posted - 04/07/2010 :  14:24:53   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Ricky an AOL message Send Ricky a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The Wikipedia page puts the (theoretical) lifespan of 117 at .1-40ms. In short, I don't think they'll be getting to the island of stability anytime soon.
Why continue? Because we must. Because we have the call. Because it is nobler to fight for rationality without winning than to give up in the face of continued defeats. Because whatever true progress humanity makes is through the rationality of the occasional individual and because any one individual we may win for the cause may do more for humanity than a hundred thousand who hug their superstitions to their breast.
- Isaac Asimov
Edited by - Ricky on 04/07/2010 14:25:14
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The Rat
SFN Regular

Canada
1370 Posts
Posted - 04/07/2010 :  20:54:48   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit The Rat's Homepage Send The Rat a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I'm waiting for them to produce dilithium, then we can get to the green-skinned babes.
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.

You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II

Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590
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On fire for Christ
SFN Regular

Norway
1273 Posts
Posted - 04/07/2010 :  22:14:00   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send On fire for Christ a Private Message  Reply with Quote
maybe elements in "the island of stability" will last for a whole second
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