The new isotope, uranium-241, has 92 protons (as all uranium isotopes do) and 149 neutrons, making it the first new neutron-rich isotope of uranium discovered since 1979.

More information: M. M. Zhang et al, Discovery of the α-emitting isotope 210Pa, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60047-2. Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"This rare isotope, which is lighter than the more common 4 He by just one neutron, is scarce in our solar system — found at a ratio of about one 3 He ion per 2,500 4 He ions," Radoslav Bucik ...

Get Instant Summarized Text (Gist) Protactinium-210, the most neutron-deficient isotope of protactinium, has been synthesized for the first time using a calcium-40 beam and lutetium-175 target.