An image of the chemical element 109, Meitnerium.
Chemistry

The GSI and the Race to Find New Superheavy Elements

October 11, 2022

The GSI discovered three superheavy elements: Elements 107, 108 and 109. It was, however, element 109 which was a little extra special, as it was the only one to be named after a female scientist, Lise Meitner, who co-discovered nuclear fission. […]

An image of elements in the periodic table.
Chemistry

Element 101 and the Beginnings of the Transfermium Wars

October 8, 2022

When Glenn Seaborg and his colleague Albert Ghiorso discovered element 101, the point was not only to be credited with its discovery but also getting to name it. They chose a Russian name, Mendelevium, for it, using this as an opportunity to extend an olive branch to them. […]

An image of a person holding a phyllite of metamorphic rock on pink background.
Chemistry

Uranium, Thorium, and Geologic Dating

October 2, 2022

Thorium 232 has an astounding half-life of 14 billion years which makes it capable of accurately dating geologic samples. In case of uranium, it is its proportion to lead in the sample, that helps date it. […]

An image of a person conducting experiments with a radioactive substance.
Chemistry

Discovering New Radioactive Elements

October 2, 2022

On becoming aware of the radioactive properties of uranium, it was Marie Curie who successfully isolated new radioactive elements such as radon, polonium, and radium. […]

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