Researchers from Arizona State University propose that the asteroid 33 Polyhymnia may host materials not yet included in the conventional periodic table. The findings were shared in a study published in the European Physical Journal Plus, a peer reviewed scientific journal.
Polyhymnia lies roughly 448 million kilometers from Earth in the main asteroid belt that separates Mars and Jupiter. The body spans about 55 kilometers across. Its unusually high density has led scientists to speculate that the asteroid could contain rocks that are heavier than osmium, the densest element known on Earth. Yet, the measured mass of Polyhymnia does not seem sufficient to force minerals into exceptionally compact arrangements, which adds a curious twist to the density puzzle.
In their analysis, the researchers explored the atomic structure of hypothetical superheavy elements using a classic approximation of atomic theory known as the Thomas-Fermi model. According to their model, elements with atomic numbers near 164 might exhibit densities in the range of 36 to 68.4 grams per cubic centimeter. Those values align closely with the estimated density of Polyhymnia at about 75.28 grams per cubic centimeter, suggesting fascinating possibilities about the composition of distant bodies in our solar system.
The study’s implications point to the potential existence of unusually stable superheavy elements, an idea that stretches current understanding because many known superheavy substances are incredibly radioactive and tend to decay in mere milliseconds due to repulsive forces among the many protons in their nuclei. The prospect that stable variants could exist beyond Earth opens doors to new questions about how matter behaves under extreme conditions in space.
One expert involved in the work, Johann Rafelski, a physics professor and co-author, described the possibility that stable superheavy elements might be encountered in the solar system as an exciting development for science. His comments underscore a broader curiosity about how exotic materials might form and persist in environments far from our planet.
Another explanation proposed for Polyhymnia’s properties involves the potential presence of dark matter within the asteroid. Dark matter remains a mysterious component of the universe, inferred through gravitational effects rather than direct observation, and some scientists consider it a possible contributor to unusual density patterns in small celestial bodies. Further research will be needed to separate the influence of ordinary rocks from any unconventional constituents in this distant object.
In this context, ongoing discoveries in asteroid science remind us that there are still thousands of near-Earth and solar system objects awaiting detailed study. Some researchers note that Earth could be at risk from a population of asteroids not yet detected, a reminder of the importance of advancing our capabilities in planetary defense and space observation. The evolving picture of Polyhymnia adds to a growing sense that the solar system still holds many surprises about the materials and processes that shape celestial bodies.