Is There a Link Between Real Element 115 and UFOs?

Element 115 remains a fascinating mystery. Although it was officially included in the periodic table in 2016, it has long been the subject of speculation due to its alleged ties to advanced alien technology and extraterrestrial beings.

Curious? Before exploring its potential connection to UFOs, let’s delve into what element 115 actually is.

What Is Element 115?

"Moscovium, also known as element 115, is a synthetic, superheavy element containing 115 protons in its nucleus," explained Jacklyn Gates, a scientist from the Heavy Elements Group in the Nuclear Science Division for Berkeley Lab in California, in a 2020 email exchange.

Like all elements on the periodic table, the element's atomic number reflects the number of protons in its nucleus. "This means it has 23 more protons than uranium, the heaviest naturally abundant element found on Earth," she added.

According to Gates, element 115 is an exceptionally rare element produced atom by atom in particle accelerators. It has an extremely short lifespan, decaying into other elements almost instantly.

"What makes it unique is its proximity to a theorized 'island of stability,' where certain superheavy nuclei could have significantly longer lifespans. Instead of decaying in milliseconds, they might last for minutes, days, or even years! This longevity could open doors to practical uses," she noted.

How Moscovium Was Created

Moscovium was first synthesized in 2003 at the Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions in Dubna, Russia, by a team of Russian researchers under the leadership of nuclear physicist Yuri Oganessian. The element was named after the Moscow region, where Dubna is located.

To produce this element, the researchers accelerated calcium-48 (48Ca) ions to approximately 10 percent of the speed of light and directed them at americium-243 (243Am).

Gates explained that this collision allowed the nuclei of 243Am and 48Ca to fuse. "Creating a superheavy element requires the full fusion of two lighter elements," she emphasized.

This experiment resulted in the creation of four moscovium atoms.

"The newly created element contained 115 protons, with 20 contributed by 48Ca and 95 by 243Am," she explained. "This element was isolated from other reaction products using the Dubna gas-filled recoil separator and implanted into a detector, allowing scientists to observe its decay into element 113."

"The unique structure of the 115 nucleus, with an odd number of protons and neutrons (Z = 115, N = 173), significantly reduces the likelihood of spontaneous fission, making alpha decay the probable outcome," Oganessian noted in Nature Chemistry in 2019.

Alpha decay is a radioactive process where an unstable nucleus transforms into another element by releasing a particle made up of two protons and two neutrons.

"The emission of an alpha particle results in an odd–odd nucleus of element 113, which, for similar reasons, also undergoes alpha decay. This pattern continues with element 111, then 109, and so on," he added. "Each step reduces the atomic number by two and moves us two neutrons away from the magic number N = 184.

"Consequently, the nucleus becomes more stable against alpha decay but increasingly susceptible to spontaneous fission, eventually ending the decay chain."

Moscovium's Atomic Weight

Decades of nuclear research were required to uncover key details about moscovium. It was only in 2018 that scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory determined its atomic weight, calculated as 288, which represents the combined number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.

To confirm this critical value, they replicated the original discovery process, generating approximately one atom of moscovium daily. These atoms were captured using FIONA (For the Identification Of Nuclide A), a device resembling a compact metal vault.

Currently, moscovium has no practical applications beyond scientific research.

Element 115 and the Alien Connection

Although element 115 was officially discovered in 2003, its name has been associated with UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and related phenomena for decades.

This connection stems from the claims of Robert ("Bob") Scott Lazar, who, in 1989, revealed what he described as classified information about element 115.

Lazar alleged that he had worked at Area 51, the secretive U.S. Air Force facility in Nevada, where he was tasked with reverse-engineering alien spacecraft. He stated that he had direct experience with element 115, which he claimed powered these extraterrestrial vehicles.

"It’s impossible to create such a heavy element on Earth. ... The material must originate from a location where superheavy elements could form naturally," Lazar asserted.

Lazar also claimed to have witnessed antigravity propulsion systems and nine alien spacecraft stored at Area 51. These ships allegedly used a propulsion mechanism that manipulated gravity, leveraging the unique properties of element 115 to achieve their advanced technology.

The government does not disclose the identities of individuals who have worked at Area 51. As some sources have noted, the core of Lazar's claims has never been definitively debunked.

However, basic scientific principles contradict his assertions.

"No, there is no link between this discovery and Bob Lazar's claims," stated Gates. "All synthesized atoms of element 115 decay far too quickly to be used as fuel for UFOs."

Rather than focusing on tales of extraterrestrials and advanced spacecraft, we are left with groundbreaking, real-world science. For those deeply involved in these discoveries, this is more than sufficient. Moscovium, after all, is a remarkable element. Gates emphasized that it represents humanity's efforts to expand the frontiers of our understanding of the universe.

"Element 115 is unique because it is easier to produce than some lighter elements, such as element 112 or 113. Generally, creating new elements becomes more challenging as the number of protons increases. This trend reverses around element 115, allowing us to synthesize over 100 atoms and study its nuclear and chemical properties," she explained.

Editor's note

Following the initial publication of this story, Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell, director of the documentary "Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers" and a close associate of Lazar, reached out with additional insights. Here are excerpts from his email:

"When Lazar first spoke out in 1989, he emphasized that a version of element 115 could potentially be synthesized and observed in the future. He predicted its discovery — as did many others — though not necessarily in a stable form (due to the low probability of encountering the right isotope). ... The isotope identified in 2003 is not the one Lazar described having worked with at Area 51 (Site 4). According to Lazar, the 115 he encountered was significantly more stable.

"From my understanding of Lazar's perspective, advancements in bombardment techniques could lead to new isotopic combinations. However, similar to gold, which has 37 isotopes with only one being stable, element 115 is expected to have mostly short-lived isotopes. ... Hopefully, future research will uncover a version with a longer half-life — even if only a few atoms are produced. That would be remarkable — and it’s likely to happen someday," Corbell stated.