| Search for superheavy elements in Nature "Assuming that the most long-lived superheavy nuclei have half-lives of 105 ÷ 106 years (this is not far from theoretical predictions characterized by certain ambiguities), one cannot exclude that they could be found in cosmic rays—the witnesses of synthesis of elements on younger planets of the Universe. In a stronger assumption that the half-lives of the “long-livers” reach tens of millions of years or more, they might be present in tiny amounts in Earth objects. Among the possible candidates, we give preference to the isotopes of element 108 (Hs) with neutron number around 180. Chemical experiments with the short-lived isotope 269Hs (T1/2 ~ 10 s) have shown that element 108, as expected, is the chemical homolog of element 76—osmium (Os). Then, a sample of metallic Os could contain in very small amounts element 108, Eka(Os). The presence of Eka(Os) in Os could be determined by its radioactive decay. Probably the superheavy long-liver could undergo spontaneous fission itself, or spontaneous fission of a lighter and shorter-lived daughter or granddaughter could occur after the preceding - or ß-decays. Thus, at the first stage, one could search for rare spontaneous fission events in the Os sample. We have started such an experiment, and it will go for 1–1.5 years. The decay of Eka(Os) isotopes will be registered by detecting a neutron blast that accompanies spontaneous fission. In order to protect the detection equipment from the neutron background generated by cosmic rays, the measurements are carried out in the underground laboratory (Modane, France), that is located at a depth corresponding to 4000 m in water equivalent. Detecting a single event of spontaneous fission during a period of one year would correspond to the concentration of 5*10–15 g/g of element 108 in Os, assuming its half-life is 109 years. This small value corresponds to 10–16 of the concentration of uranium in the crust of the Earth. Despite the extreme sensitivity of the experiment, the chances of discovering the relic superheavy elements are very small. The absence of the effect would give the upper limit of the half-life of the longliver at the level of T1/2 ≤ 5*107 years." Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 78, No. 5, p. 901–902, 2006. Yu.Ts. Oganessian "Synthesis and decay properties of superheavy elements" 
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