Chinese scientists have created two previously unobserved atomic nuclei—Berkelium-235 and Americium-231—that exist for only about 75 seconds, according to a study in Physics Letters B. The discovery extends knowledge of the periodic table and puts current nuclear theories to the test.
The experiment was carried out at the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Lanzhou using a particle accelerator. Researchers collided Argon-40 ions with a Gold-197 target, fusing them to form heavier nuclei. The particles passed through SHANS2, a sensitive separator that identifies single atoms by energy, position, and timing.
Decay Behavior of Berkelium-235 and Implications for Nuclear Stability Models
The study found that Berkelium-235 decays into Americium-231, which has a half-life of roughly 75 seconds. These extremely short-lived nuclei provide new insights into the limits of nuclear stability.Results suggest nuclear mass models overestimate decay energies in neutron-deficient elements, indicating a need for improved predictions.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this breakthrough not only broadens scientific understanding but also highlights China’s growing leadership in nuclear research. Advances in technology and deeper insights into nuclear behavior may have important consequences for global technological innovation.
In practical terms, the creation of these new atomic nuclei reflects China’s expanding ability to carry out frontier scientific work. In a multipolar world, such progress boosts China’s scientific standing and may influence the geopolitics of science and technology. Refining theoretical models could also enable advances in materials science, with applications in medicine and energy.
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