Scientists Confirm New Element

        Swedish researchers at Lund University created the new element, Ununpentium, with atomic number 115 by slamming Calcium atoms into Americium atoms.  The original founders of this new element were Russian scientists who conducted this experiment first in 2004.  The element vanished quickly with a flash of radiation due to its lack of stability and incredibly short half-life which is about 220 milliseconds.  Because of its short lifetime, scientists believe there will be no practical use for Ununpentium.  This discovery still must be approved by a committee formed by members of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.  They will decide if the experiment conducted has provided enough evidence to justify adding Ununpentium to the periodic table or if more evidence is required.
        I found this interesting for the obvious reason that a new element has been discovered.  There are not many elements left to be discovered so this achievement is significant.  I also found it interesting that two elements could be combined to form a new element because I did not think that was possible.  I thought elements had to be found somewhere in nature even if not in pure form and Ununpentium does not exist in nature.  Overall, this article made me question what defines an element and changed my previous way of thinking about elements which is great that it offered a new perspective for me and I hope maybe it can do the same for you.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/europe/new-chemical-element/

Submitted by Sammy Seibel