Scientists have observed a never-before-seen form of oxygen, and its behavior could call into question what nuclear physics ...

Scientists have shown that 34 is a ''magic number'' for neutrons, meaning that atomic nuclei with 34 neutrons are more stable than would normally be expected. Earlier experiments had suggested, but ...

When building an atom, pay close attention to the particles' electrical charges. Protons have a charge of +1. Electrons have a charge of -1. Neutrons are neutral, as its name implies. A stable atom ...

Mirror magic: The "cores" of the exotic nuclei oxygen-22 and silicon-22 both resemble that of oxygen-16, with eight protons and eight neutrons. The neutron-rich oxygen isotope contains an additional ...

Tin, a material whose name is sometimes synonymous with "dull," has a secret side that's extraordinary, physicists say. Scientists have succeeded in creating a new type of tin atom with "magic" ...