New type of nuclear fission discovered

Diogenes · Post by **Diogenes** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:48 pm

Don't you just hate it when theory doesn't fit reality?

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-nuc ... ssion.html

MSimon · Post by **MSimon** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:48 am

From what I read the magnificent find was that they were using the wrong theory.

mdeminico · Post by **mdeminico** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:16 pm

MSimon wrote:From what I read the magnificent find was that they were using the wrong theory.

Correct. They're assuming that nuclear reactions will happen towards the most stable elements and isotopes of those elements. That's assuming intelligence on the behalf of an atom.

An atom has no clue what the "ideal" breakdown components are going to be if it "wants" to undergo fission. It will likely undergo the most "convenient" fission reaction, which is the one that requires the least amount of energy to occur.

It's similar to crystal formation. Just because crystals form at a specific angle every single time does not mean that there's some form of inherent intelligence in those crystals, it simply means that that angle is the effective "resonant" mode for that structure. It's the lowest energy and therefore the easiest for it to form.