Recent advances in nuclear accelerators and experimental techniques have led to an increased ability to synthesize new isotopes. As isotopes are produced with more and more extreme combinations of neutrons and protons in their nuclei, new phenomena are observed, and the versatility of the nucleus is increased as a laboratory for studying fundamental forces. Among the newly discovered decay modes are (i) proton radioactivity, (ii) triton, two-proton, two-neutron, and three-neutron decays that are beta-delayed, as well as (iii)(14)C emission in radioactive decay. Precise tests of the properties of the weak force have also been achieved.
