Magic numbers" in nuclear physics identify specific numbers of protons or neutrons that lead to especially stable nuclei.

Cosmic dust does far more than float through space. It's the raw material from which stars, planets and possibly even life ...

Explore ETH Zurich’s cutting-edge experiments on fundamental forces and dark matter. Click to read the full story now ...

Proteins are the infinitely varied chemicals that make cells work, and science has a pretty good idea how they are made. But ...

Physicists have solved a long-standing puzzle about mercury’s nuclear fission by using a five-dimensional model that ...

A five-dimensional model has successfully predicted the asymmetric fission of mercury isotopes, offering new insights into ...

Paralleling the idea of electron shells in atomic physics, in 1949 scientists proposed the nuclear shell model: protons and neutrons sit in distinct nuclear shells, and additional energy input can ...

In a surprising turn of events, an international team of scientists has found that lead-208 (208Pb), the heaviest known "doubly magic" nucleus, exhibits unexpected shape characteristics that ...

Smashing heavier ions creates superheavy livermorium These findings not only validate the team’s approach but also open up new avenues for research. “We can study what other nuclear characteristics ...

Researchers have refined nuclear models by accurately measuring silver isotopes, confirming the strength of the magic neutron number 50 shell closure. Their work enhances our understanding of nuclear ...

Magic Numbers In 1949, Goeppert Mayer and Jensen developed the so-called shell model of the nucleus. Protons and neutrons occupy particular orbits, analogous to electrons, but they also have a ...

In 1949, Goeppert Mayer and Jensen developed the so-called shell model of the nucleus. Protons and neutrons occupy particular orbits, analogous to electrons, but they also have a property called ...