Deep Talks: The Nucleosynthesis Game

“It’s nucleosynthesis in a box,” said Deb Wolf, director of the Education and Outreach Department, as she explained the central activity of Sanford Underground Research Facility’s upcoming Deep Talks.

Concepts as complex as nucleosynthesis can be difficult to wrap your mind around. That’s why the E&O team has it neatly boxed up, just for you. 

At November’s Deep Talks event, “The Nucleosynthesis Game” will give attendees a visual, hands-on opportunity to see different kinds of atomic structure combinations, such those created by protons and neutrons. This is the same nucleosynthesis that happened in the Big Bang and that happens in the heart of stars even today. 

“It’s competitive and fun,” Wolf said. “And the science is directly related to the CASPAR experiment on the 4850 Level, which studies reactions that occur inside the hearts of stars.”

Part of the goal of this activity is to figure out which combinations are more stable and which ones will decay easily. 

“There is a super strong magnet that represents the strong force and lesser magnets that represent protons, neutrons, neutrinos and antineutrinos,” said Wolf. “All your moves are determined by the toss of a die. You can add a proton, add a neutron or choose between the two. There’s even a number that represents proton decay or calls for a particle collision with the opposing team!” 

Before and after the game, the E&O team will provide scientific context for the elements of the game and share information about their department’s mission in the region’s school systems. 

“It’s about leveraging the game and competition to arrive at scientific discovery,” said Wolf. 

The Nucleosynthesis Game is just one activity from a curriculum unit designed by our E&O team for high school students studying atoms. 

Sanford Lab's innovative curriculum modules highlight the science of Sanford Lab and are designed to inspire and challenge every student, from kindergarten through high school. Each module includes all the tools a teacher needs for 10-20 hours of instruction. The units, developed with input from teachers across the state, are aligned with South Dakota's K-12 Science Standards.

The unit the will be used for this Deep Talks provides interactive activities addressing atomic structure, radioactivity, fission and fusion.  The unit’s name, “We are made of Starstuff,” hearkens back to a quote by the renowned scientist Carl Sagan, who described how all the elements around us were created inside stars.

“It’s a very tangible representation of things that cannot be seen,” said Wolf. “It’s a nice opportunity to try to wrap your head around something that’s fairly complex.”

Pictured is a carbon atom, one of the ideal combinations that can be created during the game.