Livermorium Day: celebrating big ideas, team science and partnerships

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the City of Livermore share an honor few places can claim — a spot on the periodic table of elements. Leaders from LLNL and the city came together with students, educators and the community to celebrate this at Livermorium Day. This unique event took place in a unique location: Livermorium Plaza in the city’s downtown.

“The story of livermorium, element 116, exemplifies the power of big ideas, team science and partnerships,” said LLNL Director Kim Budil. “Livermore is truly a center of scientific and technological innovation.”

In 1998, LLNL scientists collaborated with Russian scientists at the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, to create element 114. In 2000, the team added element 116 to the periodic table. On May 30, 2012, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved flerovium as the name for element 114, honoring the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions where the work was performed, and livermorium as the name for element 116.

According to the IUPAC, the name livermorium was chosen because Livermore scientists have long contributed to nuclear science, including studies of the heaviest elements, the discovery of bimodal fission, isomers and chemical properties of the heaviest elements.

Each year, the city celebrates Livermorium Day at the end of May. In 2022, representatives from the city, LLNL, the National Nuclear Security Administration and community leaders dedicated Livermorium Plaza at 116 South Livermore Avenue. The focal point of the plaza is a five-foot, 18,000-lb floating granite sphere fountain representing the nucleus of a livermorium atom.

“Today, we celebrate the arts and the sciences and Livermore’s place at the cutting edge of modern technological advances. It is my hope that this site will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators to create tomorrow’s technology,” said Livermore Mayor John Marchand.