Some radioactive atoms are shaped like rugby balls
Using ultraviolet laser pulses, physicists have discovered that the dense cores of heavy, radioactive elements aren't always perfect spheres—some look like elongated sports balls.
Most atomic nuclei are shaped like tiny, symmetrical marbles, but the heavy hitters of the periodic table break the rules. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg recently used a specialized laser technique to peek at the geometry of actinides like neptunium and fermium. Because these elements are highly unstable and can decay in mere microseconds, they are notoriously difficult to photograph. By hitting them with precise ultraviolet pulses, scientists can read the energy shifts to map their three-dimensional structure.
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