Scientists finally detected oxygen-28. Its instability surprised them
Something may be missing from current theories about the strong nuclear force
![An illustrated image of oxygen-28 on a green background just after 4 blue neutrons have fallen away.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/090823_ec_oxygen-28_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Scientists had predicted that oxygen-28 would hang around for a while before decaying. But when they finally managed to create the elusive isotope in a particle accelerator, it fell apart almost immediately — shedding four neutrons (illustrated blue) and turning into oxygen-24.
Andy Sproles/Oak Ridge National Laboratory