Element 118 Created

BuzzSkyline writes, "The heaviest element yet, Element 118, has been created in Dubna, Russia by a collaboration of researchers from Russia's Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US. They created the new element by fusing together Californium (element 98) and Calcium atoms. The achievement comes five years after the scandal-plagued retraction of an earlier claim, which was based on fabricated data, that three atoms of element 118 had been produced at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. The achievement was reported on October 9 in the journal Physical Review C (subscription needed to read more than the abstract)."

Comments

Big deal

[Anonymous Coward]

I have ten pounds of Element 119 right here...

Re:Big deal

[TobyRush]

I have ten pounds of Element 119 right here...

Dude, for the last time, that's not Element 119. They're called "CornNuts." And they don't give you, or anyone else, "special powers."

Re:Big deal

[OrangeTide]

I think having 10 pounds of cornnuts is a special power in itself.

Re:Big deal

[Captain Nitpick]

I think having 10 pounds of cornnuts is a special power in itself.

Anybody can get 10 pounds of cornnuts.

It's eating the 10 pounds of cornnuts that requires superhuman abilities.

Not Politically Correct

[civman2]

Guys, you can't just tell an element as young as element 118 it's heavy. You'll crush its self esteem. I think the proper term these days is "in danger of becoming overweight".

Re:Not Politically Correct

[Rahga]

I don't think self esteem is in danger here... the Californium will just inject a more Calcium atoms here and there, and BAM! Instant confidence.

Re:Not Politically Correct

[Beryllium Sphere(tm)]

The poor thing might come to pieces.

Just in time

[Anonymous Coward]

Quick, gate it through K'Tau's sun before it's too late!

Re:A ways to go before element 137

[CUatTHEFINISH]

No, no... That entry is wrong. There's always ludicrous speed. "Oh no, the electron has just gone... plaid!"

118, eh?

[vic.tz]

I'll believe it when I see it!

Truthiness.

[fahrbot-bot]

The achievement comes five years after the scandal-plagued retraction of an earlier claim, which was based on fabricated data, that three atoms of element 118 had been produced at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

So I guess this announcement has an element of truth about it...

[OK, shoot me now.]

And now the fun begins

[The Bungi]

Any ideas as to what this one will be called? Probably something with pop culture appeal? My votes:

• Googlium (now with proton-sized ads!)
• Podcastium
• Blogium
• Britneyspearsium
• Vistanium
• Thisisthelastoneweswearium
• Kimilsungium (dammit, is that radioactive!?)

I sure hope they name it something nice though. "Ununoctium", "Kurchatovium" and "Hassium" don't exactly roll off the tongue. No pun intended...

Okay... back to work.

Re:And now the fun begins

[bcjanes]

The name has been around for a couple of years now... Unobtainium!! Haven't you seen The Core? In fact, we already know it's properties - Gets stronger when under pressure, and converts heat to electricity!

Re:And now the fun begins

[Anonymous Coward]

Feynmanium?! - surely you're joking...

Re:And now the fun begins

[RealGrouchy]

If the name will be auctioned off, it will be named GoldenPalace.comium.

If the name will be put to a vote, it will be named Stevium Colbertium.

and finally, if it's left up to the Republicans, it will be named Reaganium

(well, actually, it would be called Reaganium-VI, because by the time element 118 is named, five other elements will have already been renamed after Reagan. Including Oxygen.).

- RG>

Re:And now the fun begins

[Anonymous Coward]

If they put a vote on Slashdot, it will be 'Cowboyneelium'.
The FSF would name it 'GENOHE' (GNU Element Number One Hundred and Eighteen).
Microsoft would call it 'Microsoft® Viewium®'.
Apple would call it 'iElement'.
If they ask Nintendo, they'll call it 'Waangiiuum'.

Wait. I thought...

[elgee]

I thought the heaviest element was Spamium which is destroying Internetium.

Re:Wait. I thought...

[LiquidCoooled]

You are correct, spamium and videoium are blocking the test tubes.

Re:A ways to go before element 137

[MadUndergrad]

No. He didn't.

In a lab in New Jersey..

[Channard]

'Gentlemen! I have created element 118, the heaviest element on earth and' *crash* 'Doc? Where are you? Doc? Dammit, that's one big hole, we really need to get those floorboards fixed.'

Re:Is it the same fraudster?

[rtjohn]

My inferiority complex isn't as good as your's

Self-esteem problem?

[cold fjord]

Self-esteem problem? Maybe it's time you try Nu-kleeas(R), the all new "proton enhancement" solution.

Just take it 30 femtoseconds before any quantum coupling and you will see an all new you.

Ask your PhD about it today to see if the little "quantum packet" is right for you.

Warning: Side effects may include uncertainty, fission, fusion, photon emission, prolonged electron excitation, ionization, or other side effects. Tell your PhD if you are engaged in any antimatter collisions. Nu-kleeas(R) is not right for everybody.

Re:Self-esteem problem?

[elmCitySlim]

Wheres the diarrhea warning? Any self-respecting perscription has that side effect.

patented process

[walt-sjc]

Unfortunatly, the process for combining Californium and Calcium (which is called "Californication") has already been patented by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Re:patented process

[Anonymous Coward]

And combining the chemical symbols...

Unfortunatly, the process for combining Californium and Calcium (which is called "Californication") has already been patented by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

you end up with a lot of CaCa to flush.

Re:Instantiated?

[Anonymous Coward]

Alas, it seems the scientists failed to obtain any references to it, leading to immediate garbage collection.

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[Peet42]

Earth, Air, Fire, Water... What's the fifth one?

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[Bertie]

Milla Jovovich.

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[OrangeTide]

cornnuts.

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[Silver Sloth]

Surprise (c.f. Terry Pratchett - Theif of Time)

Re:A ways to go before element 137

[coaxial]

So would that make the atomic number of Unobtainium 139?

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[jhjmonnee]

Heart. Then Captain Planet shows up to take care of the bad guys...duh.

And they shall call it...

[NeuroManson]

Nibblonium! And it shall double as spaceship fuel, as long as the Nibblonians continue to be prolific poopers.

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[Xyrus]

Mila Jovavich covered in hot cornuts.

~X~

Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[fritsd]

I think you're quintessentially right, but the film was really not THAT good.

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[Vreejack]

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Re:It is a BIG DEAL!

[Anonymous Coward]

The point you're probably missing is that Ms. Jovovich's body is love.

Re:No Laugh

[gkhan1]

Yeah, slashdot is so geeky we actually quantify humor.