Big Ideas Lab Element Discovery
Sep 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Roger Henderson, a senior radiochemist, and Dawn Shaughnessy, division leader for Nuclear and Chemical Sciences, share insights from their groundbreaking work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. They explain the fascinating creation of superheavy elements and the techniques behind their fleeting existence. Listeners discover the complexities of atomic structures, the significance of recent discoveries like element 117, and the global race for new elements. The podcast dives into the patience and collaboration required in this high-stakes scientific endeavor.
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What Superheavy Elements Are
- Superheavy elements occupy a realm beyond naturally occurring atoms and require human-made nuclear reactions to exist.
- Their fleeting existence reveals how protons, neutrons, and the strong force balance at the edge of stability.
Long Partnership With Shipping Hurdles
- Lawrence Livermore partnered with Dubna for decades, supplying rare targets while Dubna provided the accelerator.
- Roger Henderson recalled shipping challenges, including pilots and airport staff hesitating to accept radioactive cargo.
Patience And Tuning Are Essential
- Be patient and methodical when running element-discovery experiments because success can take months or years.
- Tune beam energy and settings iteratively and expect long stretches without positive results.