Even the most powerful telescopes have not yet been able to see far enough back in time to witness events from the Big Bang.

In nuclear physics, "magic numbers" identify specific numbers of protons or neutrons that lead to especially stable nuclei.

The number of protons is what defines the element. Oxygen, for example, has eight protons. However, the number of neutrons in an atom can vary, leading to different forms of elements, called ...

The word magic is not often used in the context of science. But in the early 1930s, scientists discovered that some atomic ...

Magic numbers" in nuclear physics identify specific numbers of protons or neutrons that lead to especially stable nuclei.

Oxygen-28, with its 8 protons and 20 neutrons, belongs to this super-category and should, in theory, have enhanced stability. But another equally unforgiving rule of nuclear physics works in the ...

One of the most abundant elements on our planet and in the human body is oxygen, in particular, the isotope oxygen-16. With eight protons and eight neutrons, oxygen-16 has an extremely stable nucleus.

With eight protons and eight neutrons, oxygen-16 has an extremely stable nucleus. A nearby star produced the oxygen we find on Earth through nuclear reactions in its core sometime before the solar ...

Protons and neutrons can collide and form nuclei like these only at very high temperatures. Scientists believe that almost all the ordinary matter in the universe is made of about 90% hydrogen ...

The collisions will happen under enough heat and pressure to melt protons and neutrons and release their components (quarks ...

Previously, scientists discovered that in oxygen-22 (14 neutrons and 8 protons), the neutron number 14 exhibits magic characteristics. Based on nuclear mirror symmetry, ...