Researchers synthesized new isotopes of berkelium-235 and protactinium-231.

According to the news from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the synthesis and research of new nuclides are the frontier hotspots of nuclear physics, and they are of great significance for exploring the limits of atomic nuclei, testing nuclear mass models, and revealing new decay modes. Recently, the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully synthesized the new nuclide berkelium-235 and its alpha decay daughter nucleus mendelevium-231 for the first time. This research provides important experimental evidence for understanding the nuclear structure and decay characteristics of heavy nuclei, further expanding the cognitive map of nuclides.