Physicists have, for the first time ever, successfully compressed an unstable nucleus, Nickel 56. This nucleus is not found on Earth but is present when a star explodes at the end of its life ...

The nuclei of certain atoms are stable and under ordinary circumstances, stable nuclei do not undergo change. The nuclei of other atoms are unstable. These nuclei undergo change spontaneously, that is ...

Energy released by nuclear reactions drives exploding stars such as novae. To simulate novae accurately on computers, researchers need accurate inputs for the rates of nuclear reaction. The unknown ...

In this video, we explore the existence of neutrons and their transformation into protons. We discuss why free neutrons are unstable and the significance of mass in particle stability. Key topics ...

Imagine a world where energy is limitless, clean, and safe—without the environmental toll of fossil fuels or the risks of nuclear meltdowns. This is the promise of nuclear fusion, a process that ...

All the matter we know of in our Universe is made of both fundamental and composite particles. However, only a few of the fundamental particles are observed to be stable and not to decay into other ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The Universe is out there, waiting for you to discover it. Our Universe is old: 13.8 billion years old, to be precise. Many of the ...

Right now, in our atmosphere, there are countless numbers of nitrogen atoms floating high above the Earth's surface. These atoms are, in a sense, vulnerable. Cosmic radiation, in the form of neutrons, ...