Researchers at Stanford and Purdue universities seem to have discovered new physiscs. The main discovery is that the rate of radioactive decay in some elements is not contant over time. The theory is the variation is due to influence from neutrinos being emitted from the sun.
Jere Jenkins, a nuclear engineer at Purdue, found the rate of decay of manganese-54 dropped suddenly one night. Only later was it discovered that at that moment the sun had produced a massive solar flare. Other observations have found that measurements of the rate of nuclear decay vary seasonally. Other patterns show a 33 day cycle, which is the rate of rotation of the sun’s core.
This discovery is truly amazing. Current theories suggest the neutrino does not interact with matter in this way. If in fact the neutrino is interacting with atomic nuclei and influencing the rate of nuclear decay, than some new principal of physics must be involved.
Although no theory has yet been put forward as to how this may work, or what new physics might explain the variation, the impact on modern science will be profound. To begin with, basic assumptions about radioactive decay are used to date things. If the rate of decay can change, the dates may also change, which could affect everything from paleontology to climate change.
Perhaps more astounding is the possibilities of applications of these new principals of physics. Being able to manipulate the rate of radioactive decay might bring new kinds of nuclear reactors. Perhaps a way to stop a nuclear meltdown by arresting the rate of nuclear decay in the fuel rods, or maybe even finding a way to make hydrogen fusion feasible. Perhaps the transmutation of atomic elements might be possible, if the atomic nuclei can be caused to decay more readily. More sinister applications might include new kinds of nuclear weapons, or even a disintegration ray that would cause atoms and molecules to simply fall apart.
Curiously, the discovery was originally made by Ephraim Fischbach, a researcher at Purdue, who was trying to use radioactive decay as a source of random numbers. It was his investigation that led to the discovery that the rate of decay inexplicably varied over time.