Contrary to common depictions, atomic nuclei are rarely round. Early physicists assumed a spherical shape, but later research using spectroscopic methods revealed most nuclei are actually prolate deformed (American football-shaped), with only about 10% exhibiting other shapes like oblate (M&M-like) or spherical. The cause of this deformation, explained by quantum mechanics' Schrödinger equation, remains largely a mystery, overturning long-held assumptions about nuclear structure.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.