# Superheavy Element FOUND!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superheavy-element-found/447440>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superheavy-element-found/447440 "2008-04-30T04:52:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superheavy-element-found/447440/1 "2008-04-30T04:52:25Z")

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It is a given that, the heavier the atom, the more readily it will undergo radioactive decay. Most of the transuranic elements are so radioactive, some of them exist in elemental form for nanoseconds.

It was proposed that for atoms with a nucleus possesing a “magic number” of protons and/or neutrons, an “island of stability” would exist, allowing atoms of these elements metastability of billions of years.

Scientists have attempted to smash together lighter atoms, hoping the resulting super-atom would be a metastable superheavy atom.

Scientists have apparently discovered individual super-atoms of the heavy Element 122 in naturally occuring Thorium.

The’re calling the substance eka-thorium…or unbibium.

Links:

> **[First superheavy element found in nature](https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/first-superheavy-element-found-in-nature.231913/#post-1709119)**
>
> The hunt for superheavy elements has focused banging various heavy nuclei together and hoping they’ll stick. In this way, physicists have extended the periodic table by manufacturing elements 111, 112, 114, 116 and 118, albeit for vanishingly small...

[https://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=121885&highlight=](https://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=121885&highlight=)

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superheavy-element-found/447440/2 "2008-04-30T05:08:07Z")

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Ahh, there’s already a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465922) about this in MPSIMS…

It didn’t gain much traction, but it’s really awesome if true… not every day they find a new, naturally occurring, stable element.

Also, is it predicted this thing will be crazy radioactive? They’re giving it a really long half-life (100 million years).

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**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superheavy-element-found/447440/3 "2008-04-30T05:11:22Z")

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[QUOTE=cmyk]  
Ahh, there’s already a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465922) about this in MPSIMS…  
[/QUOTE]

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In that case head over that way, please.

Closed.

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