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Fleeting Fame for Flaky New Elements — Parallax Forums

Fleeting Fame for Flaky New Elements

ercoerco Posts: 20,261
edited 2011-06-10 08:56 in General Discussion
Big news: two new elements were officially added to periodic table:

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2011/06/General-Science-Energy-Chemistry-Physics-Two-new-elements-officially-added-to-periodic-table/

Andy Warhol had predicted 15 minutes of fame for everyone. But these two noobs (unoficially named ununquadium and ununhexium) "exist for less than one second before falling apart".

They just don't make elements like they used to!

If Parallax ever sells an ununquadrover or an ununhexapod, I trust the manufacturer's warranty will last longer than one second...

Comments

  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-06-09 10:56
    They just don't make elements like they used to!

    True, but assuming the unofficial names are for elements 114 and 116 respectively ununquadium in combination with unobtanium are the basis for an inertia free drive, and unobtanium, ununquadium and ununhexium are required for the warp drive. Provided of course you have the dilithium crystals and anti-matter to provide the necessary power ;- )
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-06-10 01:33
    Andy Warhol has been hogging his 15 minutes of fame for far to long. He should give it up already and let others have a go.
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-06-10 08:21
    I have no idea why "Science" adds stuff like this to the periodic table. I'm very interested in the subject however there are a couple elements on the table, man made or (as they figure) at the core of the sun that last MILLISECONDS! ok, it's cool, but what in the world man!?

    Oh look! if we slam 1.5 million tons of Dubnium into a 5800K burning orb of hydrogen and helium we get bologna-ium for 1.3 microseconds. YAY! add that to the table.
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-06-10 08:45
    Theoretically, there are heavy elements somewhere around 160 to 180 that should have very long half-lives. There may be interesting applications for dense material made from these elements if they can be produced.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2011-06-10 08:50
    @Dave: So elements are like some people I know; the denser they are, the longer they hang around?
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-06-10 08:56
    erco, yes there are some similarities to humans. The 160 to 180 region contains islands of longevity. Elements beyond that have short half-lives. If you're too dense you aren't going to last very long. :)
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