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MIT Physicists Unveil New Method to Probe Atomic Nuclei

10/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

MIT physicists developed a method to probe atomic nuclei using electrons as messengers inside molecules, focusing on radium monofluoride.
Electrons briefly penetrate the radium nucleus and reveal energy shifts indicating interactions with protons and neutrons.
The study, published in Science, suggests the technique could illuminate why matter predominates over antimatter.
Researchers aim to map radium's nuclear structure; the asymmetrical nucleus may enable tabletop symmetry-violation detection.

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Story summary

MIT physicists developed a method to probe atomic nuclei using electrons as messengers inside molecules, focusing on radium monofluoride.
Electrons briefly penetrate the radium nucleus and reveal energy shifts indicating interactions with protons and neutrons.
The study, published in Science, suggests the technique could illuminate why matter predominates over antimatter.
Researchers aim to map radium's nuclear structure; the asymmetrical nucleus may enable tabletop symmetry-violation detection.