<p>New <strong>elements</strong> might be found in the crusts of neutron stars, new isotopes of known elements certainly will be. But they can't be brought to the Solar System.</p>
<p>Under conditions of extreme pressure and density (<span class="math-container">$&gt;10^{14}$</span> kg/m<span class="math-container">$^3$</span>) the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_stability" rel="noreferrer">valley of nuclear stability</a> in the <span class="math-container">$N$</span> (neutrons) vs <span class="math-container">$Z$</span> (protons) shifts towards more neutron-rich stable nuclei and the peak of the binding energy per nucleon curve shifts towards elements/isotopes with higher <span class="math-container">$Z$</span> and much higher <span class="math-container">$N$</span>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, should these elements be removed from their high density environment, they will (explosively) revert to their constituent particles, or if removed in a more gradual way, will decay back towards the more &quot;normal&quot; heavy elements we find in low-density environments (like here on Earth). The sudden release of neutron-rich material in the collision of two neutron stars is now thought to be one of the ways in which heavy elements are produced and dispersed into the cosmos.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-26T01:35:32.430Z
Which neutron stars are known to be in the outer solar system?
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-26T05:28:29.623Z
None. And my answer is none. "...should these elements be removed from their high density environments...", which is what happens in a kilonova explosion @planetmaker.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T13:47:05.357Z
2023-04-26T05:29:59.480Z
2023-04-26T05:29:59.480Z
ProfRob
<p>This question is probably better suited to <a href="https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/">Worldbuilding SE</a>, but here are some suggestions.</p>
<ul>
<li>Some element from a superheavy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_stability#Other_islands_of_stability" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Island of Stability</a>. There once were claims for the natural occurrence of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbihexium#Possible_natural_occurrence" rel="nofollow noreferrer">element 126</a>. This hypothetical element's placeholder name is &quot;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbihexium" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Unbihexium</a>&quot;, which seems like a great science fiction name.</li>
<li>Perhaps even better would be quark matter elements from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent_of_stability" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Continent of Stability</a>. If it exists, there actually are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QCD_matter#Natural_occurrence" rel="nofollow noreferrer">plausible ways it could naturally occur</a>, so maybe a couple of quark matter stars smashing together could produce accessible chunks of it.</li>
<li>Some natural compound. For example, when high temperature superconductivity was discovered, it was noticed that it had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perovskite_(structure)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">perovskite structure</a>.  Since many perovskite minerals exist, I heard (not very serious but also not completely ridiculous) speculation that we should search for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room-temperature_superconductor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">room-temperature superconductors</a> in nature. As it happens, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perovskite#In_stars_and_brown_dwarfs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">perovskite grains are formed by cooler stars and brown dwarfs</a>, so perhaps there could be clouds of room-temperature (or higher) superconducting dust floating out there.</li>
<li>You don't specify how the material &quot;enables extremely high accelerations&quot;. It is perhaps not impossible that life that evolved on an massive high-gravity planet could provide biological compounds that help humans survive extremely high accelerations.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-25T14:13:16.507Z
Hypothetical element 126 has the _temporary_ placeholder name ‘unbihexium’, which just means ‘element 126’ — if actually discovered, a permanent name would be chosen. (For example, I remember when element 104 was known as ‘unnilquadium’; it's now ‘rutherfordium’.) In the fictional universe of the story, it would presumably have been discovered and accepted, and so a permanent name would have been chosen — one which the author could make as plain or exotic as they chose.
gidds
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T15:51:02.477Z
I started to go in on this question, but then I bumped into the heavy theoretical "island of stability" elements like [Unbinilium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbinilium), and ... well ... I guess there's no reason why there couldn't be some body out that that has a cache of it or something similar. Like a captured body from a dead system that was many stellar generations older than ours. It seems super unlikely, but in a unimaginably large universe the super unlikely is an everyday occurrence.
T.E.D.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T15:58:54.753Z
For a fun task, if you find a captured planet in your system that has super useful heavy elements, and you discern that it must have been ejected from a stellar system that was rich in such elements, it seems like it would be worth someone's while to try to figure out where the REST of that stellar system was, and where it can be found now.
T.E.D.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T17:38:21.263Z
@gidds: IMHO, Avatar would have been better if the first mention of the mineral name "unobtanium" had been replaced with "unbihexium, informally called unobtanium".  It would be for story purposes plausible that it might be more stable than present theories would suggest, but that it would be extremely rare and have some very valuable properties, and also that there may be sufficient disputes about what it should be called that the numerical name is retained for formal usage.
supercat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T17:43:05.583Z
@gidds since this is a fictional world, we could assume that element 126 would retain that name in the story, allowing the catchy title to be retained.
Oscar Lanzi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-28T00:37:21.673Z
Thanks @gidds.  I've somewhat clarified the passing reference to the current placeholder name for element 126.
David Bailey
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T14:07:48.213Z
2023-04-28T00:35:37.143Z
2023-04-28T00:35:37.143Z
David Bailey
<p>New elements on the outer Solar System? Not so much. But different types of molecules are commonplace on lots of places other than Earth. Just a few examples:</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_soil" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Perchlorates on Mars</a></strong></p>
<p>On Earth, we jump through electrolytic hoops to make perchlorate artificially, but on Mars it's right there in the dirt:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Martian soil is toxic, due to relatively high concentrations of perchlorate compounds containing chlorine.[1] Elemental chlorine was first discovered during localised investigations by Mars rover Sojourner, and has been confirmed by Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity. The Mars Odyssey orbiter has also detected perchlorates across the surface of the planet.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Strange Sulfur on Io</strong></p>
<p>Volcanic action produces volatile sulfur-bearing species that cannot survive the moisture and oxygen on Earth's atmosphere (you get sulfates) but can persist on the Jovian moon Io. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disulfur_monoxide" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Disulfur monoxide</a> forms a substantial part of the volcanic gases on Io and may even appear in condensed form there (note also the mention of diatomic sulfur gas instead of the usual octasulfur):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Volcanoes on Io produce substantial quantities of S<sub>2</sub>O. It can form between 1% and 6% when hot 100-bar S<sub>2</sub> and SO<sub>2</sub> gas erupts from volcanoes. It is believed that Pele on Io is surrounded by solid S<sub>2</sub>O.<a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/ja047729i" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[2]</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Triatomic sulfur, S<sub>3</sub> is also found in Ionian eruptions, as well as on Venus in combination with other out-of-this world sulfur molecules:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>S<sub>3</sub> occurs naturally on Io in volcanic emissions. S<sub>3</sub> is also likely to appear in the atmosphere of Venus at heights of 20 to 30 km (12 to 19 mi), where it is in thermal equilibrium with S<sub>2</sub> and S<sub>4</sub>.[3, p. 546] The reddish colour of Venus' atmosphere at lower levels is likely to be due to S<sub>3</sub>.[3, p. 539]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Carbon monoxide on both Mars and Pluto</strong></p>
<p>This notorious poisonous gas is known on Earth as essentially a high-temperature molecular fragment, formed by incomplete combustion processes (sometimes on purpose, in the initial stages of annealing furnaces) and tending to disproportionate releasing carbon soot when cooled. Not so on some other celestial bodies.</p>
<p>Carbon monoxide in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Martian atmosphere</a> is produced by photolysis of carbon dioxide:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the photolysis of CO<sub>2</sub> and quickly reacts with the oxidants in the Martian atmosphere to re-form CO<sub>2</sub>. The estimated mean volume ratio of CO in the Martian atmosphere is 0.0747%.<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.01.014" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[4]</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The released oxygen may form oxidized species in the atmosphere or perhaps in the soil, including the aforementioned perchlorates.</p>
<p>Carbon monoxide also appears in the ice on Pluto, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/frozen-carbon-monoxide-in-pluto-s-heart" rel="nofollow noreferrer">including the famous heart-shaped Tombaugh Regio [5]</a>. This may be evaporated along with other volatile molecules into Pluto's atmosphere.</p>
<p><strong>Cited References</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><p>June 2013, Leonard David 13 (June 13, 2013). &quot;Toxic Mars: Astronauts Must Deal with Perchlorate on the Red Planet&quot;. Space.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Nakayama, J.; Aoki, S.; Takayama, J.; Sakamoto, A.; Sugihara, Y.; Ishii, A. (28 July 2004). &quot;Reversible disulfur monoxide (S<sub>2</sub>O)-forming retro-Diels–Alder reaction. disproportionation of S<sub>2</sub>O to trithio-ozone (S<sub>3</sub>) and sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) and reactivities of S<sub>2</sub>O and S<sub>3</sub>&quot;. <em>Journal of the American Chemical Society</em>. <strong>126</strong> (29): 9085–9093. doi:10.1021/ja047729i. PMID 15264842.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Lewis, John S. (2004). <em>Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System</em>. Academic Press. ISBN 9780124467446.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Franz, Heather B.; Trainer, Melissa G.; Malespin, Charles A.; Mahaffy, Paul R.; Atreya, Sushil K.; Becker, Richard H.; Benna, Mehdi; Conrad, Pamela G.; Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. (1 April 2017). &quot;Initial SAM calibration gas experiments on Mars: Quadrupole mass spectrometer results and implications&quot;. <em>Planetary and Space Science</em>. <strong>138</strong>: 44–54. Bibcode:2017P&amp;SS..138...44F. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2017.01.014. ISSN 0032-0633.</p>
</li>
<li><p>NASA (7 July 2015)&quot;Frozen Carbon Monoxide in Pluto’s 'Heart'&quot;, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/frozen-carbon-monoxide-in-pluto-s-heart" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/frozen-carbon-monoxide-in-pluto-s-heart</a>. Retrieved 24 April 2023.</p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T15:07:57.600Z
In the case that OP was actually asking for materials/compounds instead of elements (which I hope so since the question for elements is a 5 second google search) this is the right answer
Hobbamok
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-25T00:30:17.597Z
2024-07-17T00:13:45.753Z
2024-07-17T00:13:45.753Z
Oscar Lanzi
<p>The question is whether you look for <em>element</em> or for <em>isotope</em> or <em>molecule</em> or <em>material</em>. In both former cases, the answer is &quot;you can find any naturally occurring element or isotope on Earth&quot;. Yet the abundances do vary somewhat among different solar system bodies, so it might be viable in some future to dig or harvest some more exoctic isotopes from other solar system bodies than Earth.</p>
<p>One example which is thought to be a viable resource the Moon could provide is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium-3" rel="noreferrer">Helium-3</a> which was embedded in the upper layers by the solar wind in the billion years past its formation. It could be used potentially as fuel in future fusion reactors.</p>
<p>Generally, the protoplanetary nebular was relatively homogenous, yet the heavy elements have different condensation temperatures. As such you find the inner solar system depleted in volatile elements (those with a low condensation temperature) as the protoplanetary disk was hotter near the Sun than far out. Thus it might be viable to mine further out in the solar system for some volatile elements (e.g. water, but also rare earth elements like Yttrium, Neodynium, Europium etc).
On Earth also the overall abundance is not so important for mankind as is the abundance <em>in Earth's crust</em>. That means that many of the rare elements are relatively depleted in the mantel and enrichted in the core as they sank to the core as they are heavier than the now silicate - rich mantle material.</p>
<p>You find a brief overview over the different of the origin of volatile elements on Earth in this Nature article by <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05276-x" rel="noreferrer">Broadley et al</a> - that's where you might find them still today. In the smaller outer-solar-system bodies the differenciation (thus sinking of heavy elements to the core) did not happen as they are much smaller - so the relative abundance of the volatile and rare earth elements is higher. That might be interesting.</p>
<p>Thus: finding something economically interesting, likely will happen in some future. However finding a completely new <em>element</em> - that's unlikely. The element table is pretty well charted, even beyond the naturally occurring elements and isotopes. Things might look different, if you are not talking about <em>elements</em> but about compound materials, thus molecules, rocks or similar. The possible variety is endless and it's certain that not every possible mineral or material has been discovered.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T13:01:59.147Z
2023-04-24T13:01:59.147Z
planetmaker
<p>So I had this idea for writing a science fiction story about the discovery of a material that enables extremely high accelerations and I want to know this to set up a plot.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T10:46:16.137Z
The answer probably depends on what exactly "cannot be found on Earth" means. In principle you can find every element in the cosmos on Earth - it's more a question of abundance.
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T13:40:07.147Z
A material, or an element? The distinction is fairly important.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T16:49:54.460Z
You can check Worldbuilding.SE
Nilay Ghosh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-24T19:33:35.663Z
Discovering unobtanium in the outer solar system is as likely as your story needs it to be.
RonJohn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-25T15:44:16.210Z
@NilayGhosh doesn't seem like a question about building a fictional world but about how the real world operates. WB isn't a dumping ground for any science-y question that isn't wanted on a more appropriate stack.
VLAZ
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-25T16:41:55.623Z
@VLAZ 1. The premise of this question is fictional 2. I haven't suggested OP to post the same question in WB. I just recommended OP to check if they can find any related posts which can be helpful. 3. WB is definitely not a dumping ground and I also didn't mention that this question is off-topic here. 4. Based on the answers, the reality aspect doesn't seem promising.
Nilay Ghosh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-26T04:13:48.157Z
It's like you're looking for tachyons. Good luck with that. It's also like you should have asked on worldbuilding.
Joshua
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-26T11:22:47.290Z
Claim they are "elements" of dark matter/energy. At this point in history if you look hard enough you can find a paper with a hypothesis of dark "stuff" having just about any properties dreamed of in any sci-fi/superhero movie. "extremely high acceleration" seems almost benign if some of the dark hype is to be believed!
Martin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-27T03:31:10.873Z
Why would a previously unknown material enable extremely high accelerations? Why are high accelerations desirable? A spaceship cannot use extremely high acceleration without squishing its crew, unless you can figure out some way of imparting that acceleration directly to each particle in the ship.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-30T15:44:02.750Z
How does this belong in Astronomy rather than, eg, World Building or Writing, ignoring even Chemistry or Physics?

If you have an idea for a science fiction story - including one about a material which enables extremely high accelerations, why not write that story?

Broadly, science fiction goes two ways.

One is, here's a great story… can we wrap some science around it?

The other is, here's some interesting science… can we wrap that in  a story?

You seem to want to combine both, while justifying neither!
Robbie Goodwin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-17T12:48:00.370Z
Upvote @RobbieGoodwin. Star Trek invents duranium and dilithium and trilithium and tritanium and latinum and transparent aluminum; and nobody asks how!
Miss Understands
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-19T01:22:05.590Z
I think people are failing to understand the underlying basis of an admittedly poorly-worded question. It's seeking the missing element (pun intended) in a line of logic: (1) Do we know for a fact that there are molecules elsewhere in the solar system that are not found (or exceedingly rare) on Earth? If yes, (2) I can use this as the basis for my story that involves non-Earthly compounds, that (3) will be used to create a thing that enables a new form of space travel. Let's not get hung up about whether the plot is credible; it's an interesting *astronomy* question.
Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-23T20:06:47.050Z
All I wanted was to ask how ‘otherwise’ was helpful here. Even why Earth didn’t deserve its usual capital was less interesting.

Then up popped the Chinese moon mission, with its discovery of a new mineral of unknown composition and Hey, Presto! The stakes have changed…

Have they not?
Robbie Goodwin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-23T20:12:48.403Z
What could this ever have to do with Astronomy, please? Cosmology, perhaps… Chemistry, clearly… World-building, obviously but Astronomy… how?
Robbie Goodwin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-23T20:21:39.577Z
To do with Astronomy or not, what might 'In principle you can find every element in the cosmos on Earth' really mean? How could 'in principle' come into this?

If you believe every possible element can be found on Earth, why not clearly say so?

If that's not what you meant, can you please make your intent more clear?
Robbie Goodwin
<elemental-abundances>
What are the chances of finding an element in the outer solar system that otherwise can't be found on earth?
user50752
# What are the chances of finding an element in the outer solar system that otherwise can't be found on earth?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-04-24)

So I had this idea for writing a science fiction story about the discovery of a material that enables extremely high accelerations and I want to know this to set up a plot.

**Tags:** elemental-abundances

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The answer probably depends on what exactly "cannot be found on Earth" means. In principle you can find every element in the cosmos on Earth - it's more a question of abundance.  
> **username_2**: A material, or an element? The distinction is fairly important.  
> **username_3**: You can check Worldbuilding.SE  
> **username_4**: Discovering unobtanium in the outer solar system is as likely as your story needs it to be.  
> **username_5**: @NilayGhosh doesn't seem like a question about building a fictional world but about how the real world operates. WB isn't a dumping ground for any science-y question that isn't wanted on a more appropriate stack.  
> **username_3**: @username_5 1. The premise of this question is fictional 2. I haven't suggested OP to post the same question in WB. I just recommended OP to check if they can find any related posts which can be helpful. 3. WB is definitely not a dumping ground and I also didn't mention that this question is off-topic here. 4. Based on the answers, the reality aspect doesn't seem promising.  
> **username_6**: It's like you're looking for tachyons. Good luck with that. It's also like you should have asked on worldbuilding.  
> **username_7**: Claim they are "elements" of dark matter/energy. At this point in history if you look hard enough you can find a paper with a hypothesis of dark "stuff" having just about any properties dreamed of in any sci-fi/superhero movie. "extremely high acceleration" seems almost benign if some of the dark hype is to be believed!  
> **username_8**: Why would a previously unknown material enable extremely high accelerations? Why are high accelerations desirable? A spaceship cannot use extremely high acceleration without squishing its crew, unless you can figure out some way of imparting that acceleration directly to each particle in the ship.  
> **username_9**: How does this belong in Astronomy rather than, eg, World Building or Writing, ignoring even Chemistry or Physics?  If you have an idea for a science fiction story - including one about a material which enables extremely high accelerations, why not write that story?  Broadly, science fiction goes two ways.  One is, here's a great story… can we wrap some science around it?  The other is, here's some interesting science… can we wrap that in  a story?  You seem to want to combine both, while justifying neither!  
> **username_10**: Upvote @RobbieGoodwin. Star Trek invents duranium and dilithium and trilithium and tritanium and latinum and transparent aluminum; and nobody asks how!  
> **username_11**: I think people are failing to understand the underlying basis of an admittedly poorly-worded question. It's seeking the missing element (pun intended) in a line of logic: (1) Do we know for a fact that there are molecules elsewhere in the solar system that are not found (or exceedingly rare) on Earth? If yes, (2) I can use this as the basis for my story that involves non-Earthly compounds, that (3) will be used to create a thing that enables a new form of space travel. Let's not get hung up about whether the plot is credible; it's an interesting *astronomy* question.  
> **username_9**: All I wanted was to ask how ‘otherwise’ was helpful here. Even why Earth didn’t deserve its usual capital was less interesting.  Then up popped the Chinese moon mission, with its discovery of a new mineral of unknown composition and Hey, Presto! The stakes have changed…  Have they not?  
> **username_9**: What could this ever have to do with Astronomy, please? Cosmology, perhaps… Chemistry, clearly… World-building, obviously but Astronomy… how?  
> **username_9**: To do with Astronomy or not, what might 'In principle you can find every element in the cosmos on Earth' really mean? How could 'in principle' come into this?  If you believe every possible element can be found on Earth, why not clearly say so?  If that's not what you meant, can you please make your intent more clear?  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-04-24. Score: 28

New **elements** might be found in the crusts of neutron stars, new isotopes of known elements certainly will be. But they can't be brought to the Solar System.

Under conditions of extreme pressure and density ($>10^{14}$ kg/m$^3$) the [valley of nuclear stability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_stability) in the $N$ (neutrons) vs $Z$ (protons) shifts towards more neutron-rich stable nuclei and the peak of the binding energy per nucleon curve shifts towards elements/isotopes with higher $Z$ and much higher $N$.

Unfortunately, should these elements be removed from their high density environment, they will (explosively) revert to their constituent particles, or if removed in a more gradual way, will decay back towards the more "normal" heavy elements we find in low-density environments (like here on Earth). The sudden release of neutron-rich material in the collision of two neutron stars is now thought to be one of the ways in which heavy elements are produced and dispersed into the cosmos.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Which neutron stars are known to be in the outer solar system?  
> **username_2**: None. And my answer is none. "...should these elements be removed from their high density environments...", which is what happens in a kilonova explosion @username_1.  

---

### Answer by username_12 on 2023-04-24. Score: 25

This question is probably better suited to [Worldbuilding SE](https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/), but here are some suggestions.

* Some element from a superheavy [Island of Stability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_stability#Other_islands_of_stability). There once were claims for the natural occurrence of [element 126](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbihexium#Possible_natural_occurrence). This hypothetical element's placeholder name is "[Unbihexium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbihexium)", which seems like a great science fiction name.
* Perhaps even better would be quark matter elements from the [Continent of Stability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent_of_stability). If it exists, there actually are [plausible ways it could naturally occur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QCD_matter#Natural_occurrence), so maybe a couple of quark matter stars smashing together could produce accessible chunks of it.
* Some natural compound. For example, when high temperature superconductivity was discovered, it was noticed that it had [perovskite structure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perovskite_(structure)). Since many perovskite minerals exist, I heard (not very serious but also not completely ridiculous) speculation that we should search for [room-temperature superconductors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room-temperature_superconductor) in nature. As it happens, [perovskite grains are formed by cooler stars and brown dwarfs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perovskite#In_stars_and_brown_dwarfs), so perhaps there could be clouds of room-temperature (or higher) superconducting dust floating out there.
* You don't specify how the material "enables extremely high accelerations". It is perhaps not impossible that life that evolved on an massive high-gravity planet could provide biological compounds that help humans survive extremely high accelerations.

> **Comments:**
> **username_13**: Hypothetical element 126 has the _temporary_ placeholder name ‘unbihexium’, which just means ‘element 126’ — if actually discovered, a permanent name would be chosen. (For example, I remember when element 104 was known as ‘unnilquadium’; it's now ‘rutherfordium’.) In the fictional universe of the story, it would presumably have been discovered and accepted, and so a permanent name would have been chosen — one which the author could make as plain or exotic as they chose.  
> **username_14**: I started to go in on this question, but then I bumped into the heavy theoretical "island of stability" elements like [Unbinilium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbinilium), and ... well ... I guess there's no reason why there couldn't be some body out that that has a cache of it or something similar. Like a captured body from a dead system that was many stellar generations older than ours. It seems super unlikely, but in a unimaginably large universe the super unlikely is an everyday occurrence.  
> **username_14**: For a fun task, if you find a captured planet in your system that has super useful heavy elements, and you discern that it must have been ejected from a stellar system that was rich in such elements, it seems like it would be worth someone's while to try to figure out where the REST of that stellar system was, and where it can be found now.  
> **username_15**: @username_13: IMHO, Avatar would have been better if the first mention of the mineral name "unobtanium" had been replaced with "unbihexium, informally called unobtanium".  It would be for story purposes plausible that it might be more stable than present theories would suggest, but that it would be extremely rare and have some very valuable properties, and also that there may be sufficient disputes about what it should be called that the numerical name is retained for formal usage.  
> **username_16**: @username_13 since this is a fictional world, we could assume that element 126 would retain that name in the story, allowing the catchy title to be retained.  
> **username_12**: Thanks @username_13.  I've somewhat clarified the passing reference to the current placeholder name for element 126.  

---

### Answer by username_16 on 2023-04-25. Score: 12

New elements on the outer Solar System? Not so much. But different types of molecules are commonplace on lots of places other than Earth. Just a few examples:

**[Perchlorates on Mars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_soil)**

On Earth, we jump through electrolytic hoops to make perchlorate artificially, but on Mars it's right there in the dirt:

> Martian soil is toxic, due to relatively high concentrations of perchlorate compounds containing chlorine.[1] Elemental chlorine was first discovered during localised investigations by Mars rover Sojourner, and has been confirmed by Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity. The Mars Odyssey orbiter has also detected perchlorates across the surface of the planet.

**Strange Sulfur on Io**

Volcanic action produces volatile sulfur-bearing species that cannot survive the moisture and oxygen on Earth's atmosphere (you get sulfates) but can persist on the Jovian moon Io. [Disulfur monoxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disulfur_monoxide) forms a substantial part of the volcanic gases on Io and may even appear in condensed form there (note also the mention of diatomic sulfur gas instead of the usual octasulfur):

> Volcanoes on Io produce substantial quantities of S2O. It can form between 1% and 6% when hot 100-bar S2 and SO2 gas erupts from volcanoes. It is believed that Pele on Io is surrounded by solid S2O.[[2]](https://doi.org/10.1021/ja047729i)

Triatomic sulfur, S3 is also found in Ionian eruptions, as well as on Venus in combination with other out-of-this world sulfur molecules:

> S3 occurs naturally on Io in volcanic emissions. S3 is also likely to appear in the atmosphere of Venus at heights of 20 to 30 km (12 to 19 mi), where it is in thermal equilibrium with S2 and S4.[3, p. 546] The reddish colour of Venus' atmosphere at lower levels is likely to be due to S3.[3, p. 539]

**Carbon monoxide on both Mars and Pluto**

This notorious poisonous gas is known on Earth as essentially a high-temperature molecular fragment, formed by incomplete combustion processes (sometimes on purpose, in the initial stages of annealing furnaces) and tending to disproportionate releasing carbon soot when cooled. Not so on some other celestial bodies.

Carbon monoxide in the [Martian atmosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars) is produced by photolysis of carbon dioxide:

> Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by the photolysis of CO2 and quickly reacts with the oxidants in the Martian atmosphere to re-form CO2. The estimated mean volume ratio of CO in the Martian atmosphere is 0.0747%.[[4]](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.01.014)

The released oxygen may form oxidized species in the atmosphere or perhaps in the soil, including the aforementioned perchlorates.

Carbon monoxide also appears in the ice on Pluto, [including the famous heart-shaped Tombaugh Regio [5]](https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/frozen-carbon-monoxide-in-pluto-s-heart). This may be evaporated along with other volatile molecules into Pluto's atmosphere.

**Cited References**

1. June 2013, Leonard David 13 (June 13, 2013). "Toxic Mars: Astronauts Must Deal with Perchlorate on the Red Planet". Space.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
2. Nakayama, J.; Aoki, S.; Takayama, J.; Sakamoto, A.; Sugihara, Y.; Ishii, A. (28 July 2004). "Reversible disulfur monoxide (S2O)-forming retro-Diels–Alder reaction. disproportionation of S2O to trithio-ozone (S3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) and reactivities of S2O and S3". *Journal of the American Chemical Society*. **126** (29): 9085–9093. doi:10.1021/ja047729i. PMID 15264842.
3. Lewis, John S. (2004). *Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System*. Academic Press. ISBN 9780124467446.
4. Franz, Heather B.; Trainer, Melissa G.; Malespin, Charles A.; Mahaffy, Paul R.; Atreya, Sushil K.; Becker, Richard H.; Benna, Mehdi; Conrad, Pamela G.; Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. (1 April 2017). "Initial SAM calibration gas experiments on Mars: Quadrupole mass spectrometer results and implications". *Planetary and Space Science*. **138**: 44–54. Bibcode:2017P&SS..138...44F. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2017.01.014. ISSN 0032-0633.
5. NASA (7 July 2015)"Frozen Carbon Monoxide in Pluto’s 'Heart'", <https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/frozen-carbon-monoxide-in-pluto-s-heart>. Retrieved 24 April 2023.

> **Comments:**
> **username_17**: In the case that OP was actually asking for materials/compounds instead of elements (which I hope so since the question for elements is a 5 second google search) this is the right answer  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2023-04-24. Score: 9

The question is whether you look for *element* or for *isotope* or *molecule* or *material*. In both former cases, the answer is "you can find any naturally occurring element or isotope on Earth". Yet the abundances do vary somewhat among different solar system bodies, so it might be viable in some future to dig or harvest some more exoctic isotopes from other solar system bodies than Earth.

One example which is thought to be a viable resource the Moon could provide is [Helium-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium-3) which was embedded in the upper layers by the solar wind in the billion years past its formation. It could be used potentially as fuel in future fusion reactors.

Generally, the protoplanetary nebular was relatively homogenous, yet the heavy elements have different condensation temperatures. As such you find the inner solar system depleted in volatile elements (those with a low condensation temperature) as the protoplanetary disk was hotter near the Sun than far out. Thus it might be viable to mine further out in the solar system for some volatile elements (e.g. water, but also rare earth elements like Yttrium, Neodynium, Europium etc).
On Earth also the overall abundance is not so important for mankind as is the abundance *in Earth's crust*. That means that many of the rare elements are relatively depleted in the mantel and enrichted in the core as they sank to the core as they are heavier than the now silicate - rich mantle material.

You find a brief overview over the different of the origin of volatile elements on Earth in this Nature article by [Broadley et al](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05276-x) - that's where you might find them still today. In the smaller outer-solar-system bodies the differenciation (thus sinking of heavy elements to the core) did not happen as they are much smaller - so the relative abundance of the volatile and rare earth elements is higher. That might be interesting.

Thus: finding something economically interesting, likely will happen in some future. However finding a completely new *element* - that's unlikely. The element table is pretty well charted, even beyond the naturally occurring elements and isotopes. Things might look different, if you are not talking about *elements* but about compound materials, thus molecules, rocks or similar. The possible variety is endless and it's certain that not every possible mineral or material has been discovered.


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