Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery by synthesizing five new isotopes that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. These isotopes, including Thulium-182, thulium-183, ytterbium-186, ytterbium-187, and lutetium-190, have been created for the first time on Earth at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU).
The creation of these isotopes marks a significant milestone in the study of neutron star collisions and the formation of heavy elements like gold and silver. These elements are typically only formed in the extreme conditions surrounding merging neutron stars. The successful synthesis of these isotopes brings scientists one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of these cosmic events.
Alexandra Gade, FRIB scientific director and a professor in MSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, expressed her excitement about this achievement, stating, ‘We are confident we can get even closer to those nuclei that are important for astrophysics.’
Understanding Isotopes
Each chemical element is characterized by the number of protons in its atomic nuclei. However, the number of neutrons in the nuclei can vary without changing the nature of an element, resulting in what are known as isotopes. For example, isotopes of iron include iron-54, iron-56, and iron-57, each with a different number of neutrons.
The significance of the five newly synthesized isotopes lies in their rarity on Earth. These isotopes have never been found on our planet before, making their creation a remarkable feat. Bradley Sherrill, University Distinguished Professor in MSU’s College of Natural Science and head of the Advanced Rare Isotope Separator Department at FRIB, commented, ‘This is probably the first time these isotopes have existed on the surface of the Earth.’
This groundbreaking achievement opens up new possibilities for advancing our knowledge of astrophysics and the processes that shape the universe. The successful synthesis of these isotopes at FRIB represents a major leap forward in our quest to understand the origins of heavy elements and the cosmic events that govern the evolution of the universe.
