Physicists Measure the Skin of a Nucleus

[pokerfan]

A large atomic nucleus is like a chocolate truffle with a gooey interior and a harder shell. Inside, the nucleus contains a mixture of protons and neutrons. Outside, it's covered with a nearly pure layer of neutrons—the "neutron skin." Now, for the first time, nuclear physicists have measured the thickness of that skin in a fairly direct way. More-precise future measurements could transform the study of all nuclei and even of neutron stars.

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/03/physicists-measure-the-skin-of-a.html

[handmade34]

1. awesome

but interesting also is podcast on 'mass extinction'

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/03/podcast-mass-extinctions-pine-co.html?ref=hp