Lead-208 Nucleus: Not So Spherical After All

An international collaboration has overturned the long-held belief that the lead-208 (²⁰⁸Pb) atomic nucleus is perfectly spherical. Using high-precision experiments, researchers found it's slightly elongated, resembling a rugby ball. This challenges fundamental assumptions about nuclear structure and has significant implications for understanding the formation of heavy elements in the universe. The discovery involved bombarding lead atoms with high-speed particles and analyzing the resulting gamma-ray fingerprints. Theoretical physicists are now re-evaluating models of atomic nuclei, suggesting a more complex structure than previously thought.