The word magic is not often used in the context of science. But in the early 1930s, scientists discovered that some atomic nuclei – the center part of atoms, which make up all matter – were more ...

The isotope lead-208 was predicted to be extremely stable and perfectly spherical because of the “magic” numbers of electrons and protons orbiting its nucleus. When researchers blasted lead ...

Atomic nuclei with “magic numbers” of protons or neutrons in their nuclear shells are extremely stable. Nuclear physicists ...

"Magic numbers are incredibly important for understanding nuclear physics, as well as related properties, because they give nuclei in their vicinity more binding energy." "This distorts the ...

It was supposed to be a physics fairy tale. Having a “magic” number of protons or neutrons means there are enough to fully occupy the nuclear valence shells (outermost orbits around the ...