Scientists have synthesized a previously unknown isotope of uranium, uranium-241, that may start to disappear after just 40 minutes.
Scientists have discovered and synthesized an entirely new isotope of the highly radioactive element uranium. But it might last only 40 minutes before decaying into other elements.
Uranium is in the class of elements in the periodic table known as"actinides," which have proton counts between 89 and 103. All actinides are radioactive, but uranium is one of the four most radioactive elements, alongside radium, polonium and thorium. Isotopes can be stable, meaning they keep their atomic configuration, or unstable, meaning they decay and break down into other elements by gaining or shedding protons. Decay rates are measured by an isotope's half-life, or the time it takes for half the material to decay into other elements. After two half-lives, a quarter of the material remains; after three, an eighth, and so on.
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