Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Johann Rafelski, Professor of Physics, University of Arizona

FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Asteroids in the solar system could contain undiscovered superheavy elements | History Defined

An illustration of an asteroid orbiting through space. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

For centuries, the quest for new elements was a driving force in many scientific disciplines. Understanding an atom’s structure and the development of nuclear science allowed scientists to accomplish the old goal of alchemists – turning one element into another.

Over the past few decades, scientists in the United States, Germany and Russia have figured out how to use special tools to combine two atomic nuclei and create new, superheavy elements.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.