33 Polyhymnia: An asteroid that defies science

Scientists are showing renewed interest in studying space objects that may contain never-before-seen heavy elements, such as the asteroid 33 Polyhymnia. The asteroid appears to be denser than any known elements on the periodic table, potentially indicating the presence of an element with an atomic number higher than 118. While elements with more than 118 protons have not been observed, theoretical work suggests the possibility of an “island of nuclear stability” around atomic number 164.