• Horsecook@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    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.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      edit-2
      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.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      edit-2
      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*