Within Element 115
Could Element 115 ever be stable fuel?
The key question is not whether element 115 exists, but whether any isotope could behave like Lazar's alleged stored fuel.
On this page
- What Lazar's fuel claim requires
- Known moscovium half lives versus storage
- What the island of stability can and cannot prove
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Introduction
Bob Lazar’s Element 115 story does not stand or fall on the simple fact that element 115 exists. Modern nuclear physics already expected that additional superheavy elements would eventually be created and added to the periodic table. The crucial issue is much narrower: Lazar described a stable or long-lived isotope of Element 115 that could allegedly be stored, transported and used as fuel in an advanced propulsion system. That requirement is far more demanding than merely showing that moscovium, the real element 115, can be synthesised. [Wikipedia]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.
Today, every known isotope of moscovium is highly radioactive and decays extremely quickly. The longest-lived confirmed isotope survives for less than a second before transforming into lighter elements. [Wikipedia]WikipediaIsotopes of moscoviumIsotopes of moscovium Supporters of Lazar often point to theoretical discussions of an “island of stability” as a possible answer. Critics respond that a theoretical possibility is not evidence that a practical, stable fuel isotope exists, let alone that it possesses the extraordinary gravity-related properties Lazar described. The gap between those two positions is where the real scientific debate sits.
What Lazar’s fuel claim requires
Lazar’s account requires much more than a new entry on the periodic table. In his description, Element 115 was allegedly a usable engineering material rather than a fleeting laboratory product.
For the claim to work as described, several conditions would have to be true simultaneously:
- A stable or extremely long-lived isotope of element 115 would have to exist.
- That isotope would need to be available in macroscopic quantities rather than atom-by-atom production.
- It would have to survive long-term storage without rapid radioactive decay.
- It would need unusual nuclear properties capable of releasing large amounts of energy in a controlled system.
- It would have to interact with gravity in ways not recognised by established physics.
The first requirement is the most basic. If no sufficiently long-lived isotope exists, the rest of the mechanism never gets off the ground. Even before discussing gravity manipulation, antimatter production or exotic propulsion, the material must first be capable of existing as a practical fuel stockpile.
This is why many physicists view the discovery of moscovium as only a partial overlap with Lazar’s narrative. The existence of element 115 itself was never the most extraordinary part of the story. The extraordinary part was the alleged existence of a stable working isotope with unique engineering applications.
Known moscovium half-lives versus storage
The real element 115, now named moscovium, was first synthesised through accelerator experiments involving americium and calcium nuclei. Scientists detected only a handful of atoms and identified them through their decay chains. [Scientific American]scientificamerican.comchemists report new superScientific AmericanChemists Report New Superheavy ElementsFeb 4, 2004 — Out of billions of candidates, the investigators detected four at…
The problem for Lazar’s fuel claim is the behaviour of those atoms after creation.
Known moscovium isotopes range from mass numbers 286 to 290. None are stable. The longest-lived confirmed isotope, moscovium-290, has a half-life of roughly 0.65 seconds. Other isotopes decay even faster, often in fractions of a second. Wikipedia ChemLin A half-life of less than a second is not a minor engineering obstacle. It means: [chemlin.org]chemlin.orgChem Lin Moscovium IsotopesChemLinMoscovium Isotopes - List and PropertiesAt 650 ms, 290Mc has the longest half-life. All nuclides decay into the corresponding niho…
- Half the material disappears in less than a second.
- After only a few seconds, almost all of it has transformed into other elements.
- Long-term storage becomes impossible.
- Manufacturing, transport and handling are effectively ruled out.
To appreciate the scale of the problem, compare it with familiar radioactive materials. Even highly radioactive industrial and medical isotopes often remain useful because they survive for days, years or centuries. Lazar’s alleged fuel would need to remain intact long enough to be stockpiled and repeatedly used. Known moscovium isotopes are many orders of magnitude away from that requirement.
Supporters sometimes argue that scientists have only produced a few isotopes and therefore may not have discovered the correct one. Strictly speaking, that is true. Nuclear physicists do not claim every possible isotope of element 115 has been observed. The difficulty is that no known isotope comes remotely close to the stability implied by Lazar’s account. [Wikipedia]WikipediaIsland of stabilityIsland of stability
What the island of stability can and cannot prove
The strongest scientific argument used by defenders of Lazar is the concept known as the island of stability.
This is a genuine nuclear-physics hypothesis. Researchers have long predicted that certain combinations of proton and neutron numbers may create unusually stable superheavy nuclei. Rather than decaying almost instantly, these nuclei could survive much longer because of shell effects within the atomic nucleus. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c…
The idea predates Lazar’s public claims. Physicists were discussing possible islands of stability decades before the late 1980s, and the concept remains an active area of research. [Wikipedia]WikipediaOpen source on wikipedia.org.
Importantly, “more stable” does not necessarily mean stable in the everyday sense.
When scientists discuss an island of stability, predicted half-lives vary enormously depending on the model. Some estimates suggest minutes, days or longer for particular superheavy nuclei, while other calculations predict much shorter survival times. Even optimistic theoretical discussions do not automatically imply a material that could sit indefinitely in a reactor core or warehouse. [Royal Society of Chemistry]rsc.orgRoyal Society of ChemistryHave we reached the shores of the island of stability?Islands of stability are groups of super heavy elements w…
The island of stability therefore provides a possible answer to one narrow objection: it shows that long-lived superheavy nuclei are not forbidden by known physics.
It does not demonstrate:
- That a stable isotope of element 115 exists.
- That such an isotope has ever been produced.
- That it can be manufactured in bulk.
- That it possesses the properties Lazar described.
- That it can generate or amplify gravity fields.
Those are separate claims requiring separate evidence.
The neutron problem behind stable moscovium
One reason the island of stability remains relevant is that known moscovium isotopes are believed to be neutron-poor compared with the region where greater stability may occur.
Current isotopes of moscovium contain fewer neutrons than theorists expect near the centre of the predicted stability region. As researchers move toward heavier isotopes with higher neutron counts, half-lives generally increase. This trend is one reason scientists continue searching for new superheavy nuclei. [Wikipedia]WikipediaIsotopes of moscoviumIsotopes of moscovium
For example, theoretical work has highlighted isotopes such as moscovium-291 as potentially more stable than the isotopes currently observed. Yet even these discussions typically involve survival times of seconds or other limited intervals, not necessarily geological or technological stability. [Wikipedia]WikipediaIsland of stabilityIsland of stability
This distinction often gets blurred in popular UFO discussions.
A nucleus lasting several seconds would be a remarkable scientific achievement compared with one lasting milliseconds. It would not automatically become a practical fuel source. The leap from “more stable than expected” to “stable enough to power a spacecraft” remains enormous.
Why the gravity claim remains the larger hurdle
Even if a long-lived isotope of element 115 were discovered tomorrow, Lazar’s broader story would still face a second and arguably bigger challenge.
Known nuclear theory contains no accepted mechanism by which moscovium or any other superheavy element generates controllable gravity fields. The island of stability concerns nuclear lifetimes and decay behaviour. It does not predict antigravity effects, gravity amplification, spacetime distortion or propulsion systems of the type Lazar described. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c…
This means the scientific hurdles are layered.
The first hurdle is proving a stable or long-lived isotope exists.
The second is proving that such an isotope can be produced and stored in useful quantities.
The third is demonstrating the novel energy and gravity-related properties central to Lazar’s account.
Current research into superheavy elements addresses only the first of those questions, and even there no confirmed stable moscovium isotope has been found. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c…
What this means for Lazar’s credibility
The state of modern nuclear science neither fully vindicates nor completely settles Lazar’s Element 115 claim.
The existence of moscovium shows that element 115 is a real chemical element, but that was never the most difficult part of the story. The decisive issue is whether a stable or exceptionally long-lived isotope exists with properties resembling the alleged fuel Lazar described.
At present, all confirmed moscovium isotopes decay rapidly, typically within fractions of a second. Theoretical work on the island of stability leaves open the possibility that longer-lived isotopes may someday be discovered, but no such isotope has been demonstrated, and the theory does not independently support Lazar’s claims about gravity manipulation or spacecraft propulsion. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c… [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c…
As a result, the strongest evidence available today supports a limited conclusion: the periodic table eventually gained a real element 115, but the specific stable fuel required by Lazar’s narrative remains unverified and absent from publicly known nuclear physics. [Wikipedia]WikipediaBob LazarBob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c…
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Endnotes
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Source: Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscovium -
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Isotopes of moscovium
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_moscovium -
Source: chemlin.org
Title: Chem Lin Moscovium Isotopes
Link: https://www.chemlin.org/chemical-elements/moscovium-isotopes.phpSource snippet
ChemLinMoscovium Isotopes - List and PropertiesAt 650 ms, 290Mc has the longest half-life. All nuclides decay into the corresponding niho...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Island of stability
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_stability -
Source: energy.gov
Link: https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainssuperheavy-elementsSource snippet
DOE Explains...Superheavy ElementsSuperheavy elements are very unstable. They are highly radioactive, which means they emit energetic par...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: [Bob Lazar]({{ ‘did-bob-lazars-story-hold-up/’ | relative_url }})
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_LazarSource snippet
Bob LazarIn 2003, scientists successfully synthesized an element with 115 protons, which they named "Moscovium". Contrary to Lazar's c...
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Source: scientificamerican.com
Title: chemists report new super
Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chemists-report-new-super/Source snippet
Scientific AmericanChemists Report New Superheavy ElementsFeb 4, 2004 — Out of billions of candidates, the investigators detected four at...
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Source: rsc.org
Link: https://www.rsc.org/news/2017/january/have-we-reached-the-shores-of-the-island-of-stabilitySource snippet
Royal Society of ChemistryHave we reached the shores of the island of stability?Islands of stability are groups of super heavy elements w...
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Source: scientificamerican.com
Title: Scientific American Superheavy Elements Are Breaking the Periodic Table
Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/superheavy-elements-are-breaking-the-periodic-table/Source snippet
Superheavy Elements Are Breaking the Periodic TableMay 14, 2024 — “Some theories predict a year half-life, or 100 or 1,000 days,” says Hi...
Published: May 14, 2024
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Source: scientificamerican.com
Title: the quest for superheavy elements and the island of stability
Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-quest-for-superheavy-elements-and-the-island-of-stability/Source snippet
The Quest for Superheavy Elements and the Island of...Mar 1, 2018 — And the half-lives of some of the recently discovered superheavy ele...
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Source: scientificamerican.com
Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/superheavy-element-117-island-of-stability/Source snippet
May 7, 2014 — This novel species, however, has an astonishingly long half-life of 11 hours, making it one of the longest-lived superheavy...
Published: May 7, 2014
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Source: scientificamerican.com
Title: new way of making superheavy elements may bring island of stability within
Link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-way-of-making-superheavy-elements-may-bring-island-of-stability-within/Source snippet
New Way of Making Superheavy Elements May...Jul 24, 2024 — According to some models, the element should also be relatively long-lived, m...
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Source: science.howstuffworks.com
Title: element 115
Link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/element-115.htmSource snippet
The most stable isotope is moscovium-290, which has a half-life of 220 milliseconds.Read more...
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Source: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/MoscoviumSource snippet
| Mc (Element) - PubChem - NIHMoscovium's most stable isotope, moscovium-289, has a half-life of about 220 milliseconds. It decays into n...
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Source: azom.com
Link: https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7958Source snippet
Moscovium - Discovery, Properties and ApplicationsJan 13, 2023 — However, isotope -289Mc is considered the most stable with a half-life o...
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Source: webelements.com
Link: https://www.webelements.com/moscovium/isotopes.htmlSource snippet
Moscovium » isotope dataIsotope, Mass / Da, Half-life, Mode of decay, Nuclear spin, Nuclear magnetic moment. 287Mc, 287, 0.0466 s, α to 2...
Additional References
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Source: envisioning.com
Link: https://www.envisioning.com/research/xenotech/element-115-power-systemSource snippet
Element 115 Power Source | XenotechAccording to Lazar's account, Element 115 serves as the central power source through a multi-stage pro...
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Source: periodictable.com
Link: https://periodictable.com/Isotopes/115.291/index2.htmlSource snippet
Isotope data for moscovium-291 in the Periodic TableDetailed decay information for the isotope moscovium-291 including decay chains and d...
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Source: pse-info.de
Link: https://pse-info.de/en/element/McSource snippet
Periodic tableElement: Moscovium — Periodic tableMoscovium is an extremely radioactive element: its most stable known isotope, moscovium...
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Source: medium.com
Link: https://medium.com/%40mattygh01/simulating-element-115-pulses-in-the-dual-sheet-model-an-in-depth-educational-exploration-7969516d94cfSource snippet
Simulating Element 115 Pulses in the Dual Sheet ModelElement 115, known as Moscovium (Mc), is a superheavy synthetic element that has cap...
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Source: applets.kcvs.ca
Link: https://applets.kcvs.ca/IPTEI/pdf-elements/moscovium.pdfSource snippet
kcvs.ca4.115 moscoviumMoscovium does not occur naturally in the Earth's crust. The name moscovium and the symbol. Mc, are the accepted o...
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Source: intechbearing.com
Link: https://intechbearing.com/blogs/news/getting-closer-to-element-115?srsltid=AfmBOooTRwGxVbZDlj1BZA_N6K2adef4DaHthUdtTa5Aax05jR9wCGA2Source snippet
One of them, or more, will be stable and it will have the exact properties that I said,” Lazar told Knapp. Bob...Read more...
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Source: ebsco.com
Link: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/chemistry/moscovium-mcSource snippet
The most stable isotope is moscovium-289, with a half-life of about 220 milliseconds. It decays through...Read more...
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Source: periodictable.com
Link: https://periodictable.com/Isotopes/115.287/index.htmlSource snippet
500 ms, Spin? Parity? Show Decay Modes · Show Ultimate Decay Products. Atomic Weight, 287.191186. Abundance, None...
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Source: physics.stackexchange.com
Title: can moscovium 299 exist and is it possible to predict how stable it will be
Link: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/769462/can-moscovium-299-exist-and-is-it-possible-to-predict-how-stable-it-will-beSource snippet
This question is off-topic. It is not currently accepting answers. We deal with mainstream physics here. Questions about the...
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Source: periodictable.com
Link: https://periodictable.com/Elements/115/data.htmlSource snippet
Lifetime, 1.5 m. Decay Mode, AlphaEmission. Quantum Numbers, 4S3/2. Neutron Cross Section, N/A. Neutron Mass Absorption, N/A. Known Isoto...
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