• Horsecook@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    49·
    3 days ago

    Bismuth was formerly understood to be the element with the highest atomic mass whose nuclei do not spontaneously decay. However, in 2003 it was found to be very slightly radioactive. The metal’s only primordial isotope, bismuth-209, undergoes alpha decay with a half-life roughly a billion times longer than the estimated age of the universe.

    Huh. No shit.

    • Zaphod@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      17·
      3 days ago

      wow. that must be the slowest process of anything in the universe

      edit: nvm

      The slowest process measured is the radioactive decay of Xenon-124, with a half-life trillions of times longer than the universe’s age, making it the longest-lived observed phenomenon.

    • Haaveilija@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      3 days ago

      Bismuth

      Shortened as Bi

      Half-life of a Billion times longer than the estimated age od the universe

      Coincidence?

      *X-Files theme starts playing*