New material for weights

[trux]

Scientists seem to have discovered a new natural super-heavy element. The element was in the theoretic super-heavy periodic table since a long time under the name of unbibium or eka-thorium, but unlike at many other such elements that were created artificially in giant particle accelerators, with the life time of just tiny fractions of a second, unbibium was now discovered to be naturally available and very stable (estimated half life of 100 millions years). Marinov, the researcher who detected the element, claims it is as abundant in nature as lead.

the physics arXiv blog » Blog Archive » First superheavy element found in nature

The discovery still waits to be verified by peers.

I did not manage to find any information about the estimated density, but since it has much higher atomic number (P122) than lead (P82 / 11.3 g/cm3), or even than uranium (P92 / 19.1 g/cm3), it will be likely quite high. We can look forward to a new class of highly miniaturized diving weights

 

[Crazys13]

That would be excellent! Having maybe a few (2-3) small bullet weights, very streamlined and easy to deal with. And to be heavier than uranium is just nuts. I read somewhere that if you had a gallon milk jug filled with uranium, it would weigh 150lbs! Lets all hope they go somewhere with this element. It would benefit the diving world as well as thousands of other uses for weights.

 

[okamotoa]

not only that but totaly add a new demesion to weight lifting

 

[trux]

Yes, one gallon is 3.785 liter = 3 785 cm3, and at the density of Uranium of 19.1 g/cm3, it gives 72.3 kg which is 160 pounds. Platinum, Iridium, and Osmium are even little bit more dense (Pt 21.5 g/cm3, Ir 22.4 g/cm3, and Os 22.6 g/cm3). So a gallon of Osmium would weight 85.5 kg (190 pounds). Gold and Thungsten, despite their relatively low atomic mass, are pretty dense too (similar to Uranium - over 19 g/cm3). Despite the weight, I'd certainly not refuse if someone handed me over a gallon of pure Gold (also around 160 pounds) or Platinum.

The density of Unbibium is not yet known. Although the atomic number (122) and atomic mass (292) are considerably higher than al all those other known elements (92/238 at U), the density depends also on the crystal structure, which is not yet known (or at least not published yet).

Some more information on Unbibium (including some healthy scepticism): Developing your Web presence: Unbibium or Unbelievium?