lisah, lots of strength and health~ma for you and for Bob.

OK, this is freaky.

Carbon-22 Is Shockingly Huge And Shockingly Stable

Physicists in Japan have discovered Carbon-22, an exotic isotope of one of the universe's most abundant elements. With a nucleus greater than those of heavier elements like carbon and zinc, it is the biggest example yet of a "halo nucleus."

Discovered in a particle accelerator at the University of Tokyo, Carbon-22 has six protons and a whopping sixteen neutrons in its nucleus. In most such overstuffed isotopes, the excess neutrons create instability and cause the atom to break apart. However, Carbon-22 makes use of a unique arrangement of its nucleus that gives it stability unusual for its size.

...

This is the freaky part:

The reason for this is that Carbon-22 arranges itself in what is called a halo nucleus. In this arrangement, two of the neutrons detach from the nucleus and orbit around it, forming a halo around the nucleus. This essentially alters the nucleus so that it is now a three body system, with a core of six protons and fourteen neutrons along with the two orbiting neutrons. Although physicists still don't exactly know why, this arrangement provides the needed stability for Carbon-22 to hold together longer.

WTF, Carbon-22?

I think the real question is, how long until we can build nanotubes out of it?

t /wants a space elevator

Health~ma to ChicagoBob.

I think the real question is, how long until we can build nanotubes out of it?

Its half-life is too short.

While the next biggest carbon isotope, Carbon-21, has a half-life of under 30 nanoseconds - or billionths of a second - Carbon-22 has the relatively long-lived half-life of roughly 6 milliseconds. That might not sound like a lot of time, but it still means Carbon-22 holds together for about a million times the average half-life of Carbon-21.

I can't watch it now, but this looks absolutely fascinating.

http://www.vbs.tv/newsroom/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-14

Unknown NSFW-ness, doesn't look it would be a problem. It's not a guide to vice in North Korea. I believe you just increment the numbers to watch.

Abundant healing and coping~ma to Bob, lisah, with an extra dose of coping for you.

State is having to import salt via the port. It's also gotten darker recently. I was shocked how bright it was earlier.

I've accidentally run the dishwasher without soap and everything seemed just about as clean.

I have just made the decision to switch back from the green dishwasher detergent because it was requiring too much pre- and post-washing. I can't imagine what it would be like with no detergent at all.

Lisah, I'm vibing for the best outcome possible for Bob.

/ wants a space elevator

I thought I was the only one!