Scientists have created a previously unknown isotope of uranium – uranium-241. This is the first isotope of uranium very rich in neutrons since 1979.
Japanese scientists have succeeded in creating an entirely new isotope of uranium, which “live” only 40 minutes before its half-life began. Additionally, this is the first isotope of neutron-rich uranium discovered in the last 44 years, writes Live Science.
in 24News Breaker. Technology emerged telegraph channel. Subscribe so you don’t miss the latest and exciting news from the world of science!
Japanese physicists have created a new isotope of uranium, uranium-241, in a particle accelerator located at the RIKEN Institute for Physical and Chemical Research. To do this, they used the known isotopes of uranium-238 platinum-198. Scientists agree that this isotope does not have many useful practical or scientific applications, as this isotope can only be created in very small quantities.
But the uranium-241 isotope, like all uranium isotopes, has 92 protons but also contains 149 neutrons. Thus, this isotope is the first new isotope of a radioactive element very rich in neutrons since 1979.
Uranium atoms always contain the same number of protons, but different isotopes can have different numbers of neutrons. That is, to call an isotope very neutron-rich, it must have more neutrons than a uranium atom normally has. Uranium belongs to a group of radioactive chemical elements called actinides, and the number of protons in their nuclei is between 89 and 103.
Isotopes of chemical elements, i.e. different versions, can be stable (keep their configuration) or unstable (decay into other elements). The rate of decay of an isotope is measured by its half-life, that is, the time it takes for half of the substance to decay into other elements.
According to Japanese physicists, they have not yet determined the half-life of uranium-241 but it is estimated to be only 40 minutes. And that’s a very short time. For example, the half-life of the carbon isotope carbon-14 is 5730 years. At the same time, the half-life of the technetium-99m isotope is 6 hours. But the shortest half-life belongs to hydrogen-7, which is the isotope of hydrogen. It’s just 23×10 to minus 24 times a second.
Focus He has already written that scientists have proven during a recent experiment that light can travel through gaps in time.
Previously Focus He wrote that at the Large Hadron Collider, scientists have captured a ghostly particle – the first time they’ve seen the neutrino. It was possible to capture the neutrino using the FASERnu detector installed at the LHC.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.