Atomic Skull

Now I look at the saber-tooth tiger s skull, so massive, so deadly. Without stars, the tiger racing across the savanna fades away, ghostlike. There are no iron atoms for its blood, no oxygen for it to breathe, no carbon for its proteins and DNA. There are no mossy caverns, mist-covered swamps, black vipers, retinas, spiral nautilus shells. Our existence requires stars to forge the heavy ele-... 

You may recall from Chapter 4 that the nuclei of some atoms are unstable and undergo nuclear reactions. In this chapter you will study nuclear chemistry, which is concerned with the structure of atomic nuclei and the changes they undergo. An applicahon of a nuclear reaction is shown in the photo of the human neck and skull. Table 25-1 offers a comparison of chemical and nuclear reactions. 

Carbon-dating of this skull is based on the radioactive decay of carbon-14 atoms which is measured in half-lives. 

ETV-MIP electrothermal vaporization-microwave induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry EU European Union eukaryotic concerning all cells with membrane-bound, structurally discrete nuclei (or organisms composed of such cells) exencephaly protrusion of the brain from the skull (e.g. as a result of a congenital malformation)... 

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