So, the “single particle” of plutonium is more like a mini-dust bunny infected with “millions or billions of atoms” ( Michael Ketterer, Aug. 8, Open Forum). He describes a micron-sized particle which ...

Discover the fascinating process of radioactive decay, where unstable atoms transform, releasing energy in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma emissions.

Ever wonder how a spacecraft millions or even billions of miles from the Sun can keep its lights on? After all, solar panels become less efficient the farther you travel into the outer solar system ...

Alpha decay represents a fundamental mode of radioactive disintegration wherein an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle—a tightly bound cluster of two protons and two neutrons. This process not ...

Among the many science toys that have fallen out of fashion since we started getting nervous around things like mercury, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and radiation is the spinthariscope, which let people ...

At this point, atomic clocks are old news. They’ve been quietly keeping our world on schedule for decades now, and have been through several iterations with each generation gaining more accuracy. They ...