The most common isotope of helium is helium-4, which consists of two neutrons and two protons. Helium has only one other naturally-occurring isotope — helium-3 (containing two protons and one neutron) ...

An atom consists of a heavy center, called the nucleus, made of particles called protons and neutrons. An atom has lighter ...

Hydrogen and helium trace their lineage back to the big bang. Other elements, ... So creating a brand new element requires loading an atom's nucleus with more protons.

The helium atoms are then ionized by the absorption of a single ultraviolet photon, the energy of which is tuned such that it is only just enough to ionize the helium – 99.9% of the photon’s energy is ...

How to fake super-heavy hydrogen In a feat of modern-day alchemy, atom tinkerers have fooled hydrogen atoms into accepting a helium atom as one of their own. The camouflaged atom behaves ...

Helium may be the second most abundant element in the Universe, but it's quite a rarity on Earth. The second lightest element in the periodic table, it's named for Helios, the ancient greek sun ...

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. and BUFFALO, N.Y. — Helium, the second lightest element in the universe, has a variety of uses, from keeping balloons afloat to cooling superconducting magnets. It is also a noble ...

Helium, a noble gas, was long believed to be 'too aloof' to react with the other elements on the periodic table. Now, however, scientists have provided a theoretical explanation of how helium may ...

Helium is the simplest element in the periodic table with more than one particle in its nucleus, yet state of the art theory and experiments on it don't add up.

Scientists have discovered ancient helium in volcanic rocks, indicating the element may be leaking from Earth's core. fpm/E+/Getty Images Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter .