50 years ago, the quest for superheavy elements was just getting started
Excerpt from the September 8, 1973 issue of Science News
![illustration of blue and green atoms inside the superheavy element tennessine](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/082823_mt-50ya-superheavy_feat_REV.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
The superheavy element tennessine (illustrated) joined the periodic table in 2015. Created by smashing atoms in a particle accelerator, the element’s half-life is less than a second.
Kwei-Yu Chu/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory