New isotope measurement could alter history of early solar system - The early days of our solar system might look quite different than previously thought, according to research at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. The study used more sensitive instruments to find a different half-life for samarium, one of the isotopes used to chart the evolution of the solar system. Reference: 'A Shorter 146Sm Half-Life Measured and Implications for 146Sm-142Nd Chronology in the Solar System', N. Kinoshita, et al., Science 30 March 2012: 1614-1617. DOI:10.1126/science.1215510