Atoms which have unstable nuclei are radioactive and are called radioisotopes or radionuclides. The change that an unstable nucleus undergoes is called disintegration or decay. When unstable nuclei ...

A nucleus becomes unstable when there are too many neutrons or protons disrupting the strong nuclear forces that hold it together. What causes a nuclei to be stable? The forces among the particles ...

An unstable nucleus can emit a fast-moving electron called a beta (β) particle, to become more stable. Beta radiation is made up of a stream of beta particles emitted from unstable nuclei within ...

All of this would be great if it weren't for the fact that muons are unstable and typically decay in under two microseconds. Putting one in orbit around a helium nucleus adds to the complications ...

Physicists have, for the first time ever, successfully compressed an unstable nucleus, Nickel 56. This nucleus is not found on Earth but is present when a star explodes at the end of its life ...

Radioactive decay is ubiquitous. It occurs everywhere on Earth and throughout the universe. The most common forms occur when an unstable nucleus spits out an alpha particle, consisting of two neutrons ...

How does an unstable nucleus ‘know’ when it’s time to decay? The answer may lie in the fabric of space itself.

An unstable nucleus can emit a ‘package’ of two protons and two neutrons, called an alpha particle, to become more stable.