Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking feat, discovering a new atomic isotope, AST-188, that has remained elusive for over three decades. This discovery, made in Finland, could reshape our understanding of nuclear physics.
AST-188, containing 85 protons and 103 neutrons, is a rare type of radioactive decay. This isotope was created through the bombardment of silver ions with strontium-84 ions. This is the lightest known isotope of astatine, and these exotic nuclei exist for only seconds, requiring extreme precision to study.
Theoretical models predicted the existence of AST-188, and its discovery validates these models. This finding enhances our understanding of heavy element structures and could lead to advancements in medical treatments, such as targeted cancer therapies. The methods used in this experiment may also find applications in medicine, for example, in the field of cancer therapy.