New research suggests that some asteroids in our solar system might be composed of “superheavy elements,” which are elements that don’t currently exist on the Periodic Table, the most comprehensive list of 118 known chemical elements.
Johann Rafelski, a physics professor at the University of Arizona and co-author of the study, stated that discovering such elements in asteroids would pose significant questions about how these elements formed and why they have not been found elsewhere.
These unusually dense asteroids are called Compact Ultra Dense Objects (CUDOs) and are even heavier than osmium, the heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth. One such asteroid is 33 Polyhymnia, found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Its density has puzzled scientists, as its size and mass don’t allow it to compress minerals into ultra-dense forms. Moreover, it’s hard to study due to its small size and the vast distance separating it from Earth.
Earlier studies proposed that the density of CUDOs like 33 Polyhymnia might be explained by the presence of mysterious dark matter particles that exist within asteroids. However, Rafelski and his colleagues have mathematically shown that unknown classes of chemical elements, which are denser than osmium and don’t fit within the current Periodic Table, could better explain the extreme density of these space rocks.
Scientists have long debated the existence of elements heavier than oganesson, the last one on the current Periodic Table. These superheavy elements are highly unstable due to the large number of protons in their atomic nuclei, causing them to decay rapidly. However, theories have posited an “island of stability” around atomic number 164 where elements could exist for short periods without decaying quickly. Rafelski’s team agrees with this idea.
The researchers used the Thomas-Fermi model, a basic atomic model, to theorize the atomic structures of these potential superheavy elements. Their findings indicate that elements around atomic number 164 could have a density ranging between 36 and 68.4 grams per cubic centimeter. This range aligns closely with the calculated density of 33 Polyhymnia, suggesting that if superheavy elements exist, they could be responsible for the extraordinary density of some asteroids, though dark matter remains a possible explanation.
Rafelski conveyed the excitement of the findings, stating, “What is especially exciting about this work is that we do not know exactly where this will lead.”
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