Mysterious Gamma Rays Reveal Hidden Magnetism Inside Atomic Nuclei

A study by FRIB and LLNL published in Nature found that an anomalously large number of low-energy gamma rays from nuclear decay is caused by magnetic transitions, not electric ones. An experiment on copper decaying into zinc confirmed this.

• Low-energy gamma-ray enhancement effect explained by magnetic transitions in the nucleus
• In the experiment, copper decayed into zinc: only the magnetic transition produced enhancement
• Results applicable in astrophysics, nuclear energy and nuclear forensics
• Work published in Nature on July 15, 2026