"We are not doing nuclear physics just to see whether you can get 7,000 species," he explained. "There are various nuclei that we can use to our advantage, eventually. Those we call 'designer nuclei.'"
Among these valuable nuclei are iron-45, a collection of 26 protons and 19 neutrons, which may help us understand superconductivity between protons; a pear-shaped radium-225, with 88 protons and 137 neutrons, which will help us understand why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe; and terbium-149, with 65 protons and 84 neutrons, which has shown an ability to attach to antibodies and irradiate cancer cells without affecting healthy cells.
"They have done experiments on mice and now humans in which they would look at the effectiveness of this treatment," he said. "This treatment is called an 'alpha knife.'
"Applications will certainly follow from the basic knowledge."
