Scientists have directly detected argon-42, one of the rarest isotopes in Earth’s atmosphere, found at just one part in 10. Previously observed only indirectly, the isotope has now been identified atom by atom, marking a major advancement beyond traditional accelerator mass spectrometry methods.

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) is advancing through its final design phase as researchers seek funding for construction. Once completed, the 25.4-meter telescope will be one of the world’s largest and is expected to become operational in the 2030s