New Elements, and Exploding Whales

TL;DR

Scientists have created a new element with atomic number 117, adding to the list of super-heavy elements, which provides insights into atomic nuclei structure. Additionally, the decomposition of whale carcasses leads to the production of gases, causing potential explosions.

Transcript

I’m Hank Green, welcome to SciShow News, where where it’s starting to seem like: Another year, another element! You hardcore SciShow News hounds know that new elements are constantly being created -- if fleetingly -- and then tested, and verified, in labs around the world. In 2012, two new elements were added to the periodic table: flerovium, other... Read More

Key Insights

• 👶 New elements are continually being created and tested in labs around the world.
• ❣️ Super-heavy elements, despite being unstable, offer insights into the structure of atomic nuclei and the potential for stable isotopes.
• ❣️ The possibility of an "island of stability" suggests that super-heavy elements could have longer half-lives.
• 🫢 Whale carcasses can inflate and potentially explode due to the decomposition process and the buildup of gases.
• 🐳 The size and watertight nature of whales contribute to the likelihood of explosion.
• 🥺 Cutting a hole in a whale carcass can lead to an immediate explosion.
• 💀 Avoiding dead things and not poking holes in corpses are general safety guidelines.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was the new element with atomic number 117 created?

The scientists created element 117 by bombarding an isotope of berkelium with isotopes of calcium. This process produced a new element with unstable nuclei.

Q: What is the significance of creating super-heavy elements?

Creating super-heavy elements helps scientists understand the structure of atomic nuclei and the existence of an "island of stability" where these elements might have longer half-lives.

Q: Why do scientists continue to create super-heavy elements if they are unstable and decay quickly?

One reason is prestige, as the discovery of new elements brings recognition. Additionally, these elements provide valuable insights into atomic nuclei structure and the possibility of stable isotopes in the future.

Q: Why do whale carcasses potentially explode?

When a whale dies, its guts decompose, producing gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide. The large size and watertight nature of whales, particularly blue whales, allow for a buildup of gases, potentially leading to an explosion if a hole is punctured in the carcass.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have successfully created a new element, 117, by bombarding an isotope of berkelium with isotopes of calcium.

• Super-heavy elements with atomic numbers above 110 decay quickly but provide valuable information about the structure of atomic nuclei and the possibility of an "island of stability."

• Whale carcasses, particularly that of the blue whale, can inflate and potentially explode due to the decomposition process, which produces a significant volume of gases.