Researchers from Lund University in southern Sweden have discovered a new element - the 115th on the periodic table - which is "super-heavy" and still nameless.
- New drive to address teacher shortage (4 May 2013)
- 'Every creative agency in California wants a Swede' (5 Mar 2013)
- Volunteers shore up a glitch-free Nobel evening (10 Dec 2012)
"This was a very successful experiment and is one of the most important in the field in recent years," Dirk Rudolph, Professor at the Division of Nuclear Physics at Lund University, said in a statement.
The element, which will take the atomic number 115, is as yet unnamed.
As well as observing the new element, the team gained access to data allowing a closer look into the structure and properties of super-heavy atomic nuclei.
The team was able to confirm the existence of the element by testing the energies of certain protons against the new element's alpha decay, energies that agreed with the expected energies for X-ray radiation. This allowed the physicists to get a "fingerprint" of the element.
The research was carried out in Germany and based on previous studies in Russia.
The find marks the second recent breakthrough for Swedish researches in the science field. In July, scientists in Uppsala, eastern Sweden, discovered "Upsalite", a newly created form of magnesium carbonate the team referred to as an "impossible" material.
"[Upsalite] is expected to pave the way for new sustainable products in a number of industrial applications," Maria Strømme, professor of nanotechnology, said in a statement at the time.
TT/The Local/og
Follow The Local on Twitter
The element, which will take the atomic number 115, is as yet unnamed.
As well as observing the new element, the team gained access to data allowing a closer look into the structure and properties of super-heavy atomic nuclei.
The team was able to confirm the existence of the element by testing the energies of certain protons against the new element's alpha decay, energies that agreed with the expected energies for X-ray radiation. This allowed the physicists to get a "fingerprint" of the element.
The research was carried out in Germany and based on previous studies in Russia.
The find marks the second recent breakthrough for Swedish researches in the science field. In July, scientists in Uppsala, eastern Sweden, discovered "Upsalite", a newly created form of magnesium carbonate the team referred to as an "impossible" material.
"[Upsalite] is expected to pave the way for new sustainable products in a number of industrial applications," Maria Strømme, professor of nanotechnology, said in a statement at the time.
TT/The Local/og
Follow The Local on Twitter
Don't miss...X
What's On in Sweden
Robyn is playing in Stockholm on Saturday. Check out what else is happening with The Local's guide to the main ...
Teen charged for nude 'selfie' Facebook post
A 16-year-old girl in southern Sweden has been charged for aggravated defamation after uploading a naked picture a classmate took ...
Four decades of Stockholm Syndrome
When a man held up a Swedish bank 40 years ago, the term "Stockholm Syndrome" was coined as the man's ...
Swedish hospital slaps parents with octopus ban
Swedish neo-natal doctors have asked parents to stop bringing crochet octopi to the wards, after a birthing trend from neighbouring ...
Swedish politicians shot in Somalia drive-by
Sweden's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that a Swedish woman was shot and injured in Mogadishu, with additional reports that ...
Structural racism 'still a problem' in Sweden
Sweden has failed to address the problems of structural racism, discrimination, and hate crimes despite ten years of criticism, the ...
The Local's guide to back-to-school style
Kids back to school this week? Need some new ideas for school essentials? Fret not for The Local's self-proclaimed style ...
Swedish royals in 'Breivik group' bomb threat
Police in Sweden are on high alert after a letter in English was sent to a regional Swedish paper warning ...
Where to find the best pub grub in Stockholm
With summer drawing to a close and temperatures starting to drop, The Local offers up a list of Stockholm pubs ...
Sweden most sustainable country in the world
Sweden has come first in a ranking of the world's most sustainable countries, with the report praising Sweden's environmental strengths ...
 |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment