"Unveiling the Ultimate Element: Exploring the Outer Limits of the Periodic Table"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Phys.org
Researchers are exploring the limits of the periodic table with the discovery of six new superheavy elements, raising questions about the existence and characteristics of an "island of enhanced stability." Recent review articles in Nature Review Physics summarize the challenges and offer fresh perspectives on the quest for superheavy elements and the limit of the periodic table. While elements up to oganesson (element 118) have been produced, they are highly unstable, with their lifetimes increasing towards the magic neutron number 184. The research program at GSI Darmstadt, supported by infrastructure and expertise at HIM and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, continues to play a crucial role in the investigation of superheavy elements, with the potential for more efficient studies in the future.