An illustration of the structure of an atom. (KTSDesign/SciencePhotoLibrary/Getty Images)An experiment involving the collision of specialized lead atoms with high-speed particles has revealed an astonishing finding.Rather than the expected perfect spherical shape, the core of the isotope known as lead-208 (208Pb) appears unexpectedly flattened.The Surprising Results of the Experiment on Lead-208This discovery indicates that atomic...
Credit: PixabayA groundbreaking experiment smashing special lead atoms with high-speed particles has revealed an unexpected twist in nuclear physics.Physicists from the University of Surrey expected lead-208 (208Pb) to have a perfectly spherical nucleus. Instead, their findings showed a slightly flattened shape, challenging long-held assumptions about atomic structure.A Puzzle at the Heart of Nuclear Physics208Pb...
Credit: PixabayThe term "atom," derived from Latin for "indivisible," can be misleading. A recent simulation by U.S. theoretical physicists has provided a detailed microscopic view of how an atom splits in two, shedding light on an energetic event that has significantly impacted science and technology.In 1938, physicists Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner, and Fritz Strassmann...
