Penny-sized Nuclear Battery Developed

"Nuclear batteries that produce energy from the decay of radioisotopes can provide a useful amount of current for hundreds of years at power densities a million times higher than standard batteries. Nuclear batteries have been used for military and aerospace applications for years, their large size has limited their general usage. But now a research team at the University of Missouri has developed a nuclear battery the size of a penny that could be used to power micro- and nano-electromechanical systems. The research team is also working on making use of liquid semiconductor technology and replacing it with traditional solid semiconductor. This will make the nuclear batteries safer.

Reference: Slash Dot

Superheavy Element 114 Confirmed

Scientists have been able to confirm the production of the super heavy element 114, an important aspect in nuclear science. Using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator (BGS) at Berkeley Lab's 88-inch Cyclotron, the researchers are able to confirm the creation of two individual nuclei of element 114. Super heavy elements greater than uranium, element 92 - decay in a time shorter than the age of Earth, so these elements need to be made artificially to confirm their existence. Scientists are hoping that element 114 is stable.

Reference:
L. Stavestra, K. Gregorich, J. Dvořák, P. A. Ellison, I. Dragojević, M. A. Garcia, and H. Nitsche. Independent verification of element 114 production in the 48Ca + 242Pu reaction. Physical Review Letters, 2009; 103, 132502 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.132502