Element 100

Atomic scientists passed a kind of milestone. Last week they announced the creation of Element 100, a job done by "fattening" atoms of Plutonium 239 (94 protons, 145 neutrons) in the materials testing reactor at Arco, Idaho. The plutonium atoms absorbed 15 neutrons and emitted six beta particles (electrons). Since a neutron minus an electron equals a proton, the net result was Element 100 (100 protons, 154 neutrons).

Element 100 had almost as many creators (from Argonne National Laboratory, California's Radiation Laboratory and elsewhere) as it has neutrons. It has a half life of three hours. It has no name so far, and no foreseeable uses.

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