Tennessine

Tennessine (Ts) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-11 · the last 10 years

Research intensity has climbed to about 78% of the element’s all-time peak, a level reached after an uneven rise from 33% in 2016.

Research intensity ran from about 33% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 78% in 2026 — a net rise with setbacks along the way, and the all-time peak (1972) lies before this window. The trajectory is characterized as an uneven climb, with intensity dipping in the mid-window years before recovering toward the end of the period. Among the 118 elements, tennessine has one of the smaller research literatures of any element.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 11 in 2016 to about 22 in 2025 (2.0x). That matches the growth of the literature as a whole over the same years: the general tide of scientific output, not a surge specific to the element.

The core of tennessine research belongs to the community of Synthesis and Decay of Superheavy Elements and Heavy-Ion Collision Physics. This group focuses on element synthesis, decay superheavy, and sequential fission dynamics. Tennessine is a minor presence in this much larger community, with under 1% of its papers involving tennessine. However, it accounts for about 69% of tennessine’s recent research, a share that has remained steady compared to the previous period. Key work includes a 2023 study on colliding heavy nuclei, cited about 25 times, and a 2020 analysis of entrance channel dependent hot fusion reactions, cited about 58 times.

A rising share of tennessine’s literature now appears in Radioligand Therapy and Nuclear Imaging for Prostate, Thyroid, and Neuroendocrine Cancers. While tennessine remains a minor presence here—under 1% of the community’s papers—it now represents about 15% of the element’s recent research, up from 5% in the previous period. This shift is anchored by a 2024 paper on the chemical bond of heavy astatine and super-heavy tennessine, cited about 5 times, and a 2025 study on astatine reactivity, cited once.

Conversely, the share of research in Actinide Chemistry and Nuclear Fuel Materials has declined to about 8% of the element’s recent work, down from 16% previously. Tennessine is a minor presence in this field, with under 1% of its papers involving the element. Notable work includes a 2019 introduction to the periodic table, cited about 35 times, and a 2025 study on relativistic effects on halogen group elements, cited once.

A new share of research has emerged in Fluorinated Molecule Synthesis and Hypervalent Iodine Reactions, rising from 0% to about 8% of the element’s recent work. Tennessine is a minor presence here, with under 1% of the community’s papers involving it. The primary anchor is a 2025 chapter on Group 17 elements, not yet cited.

The Silicon-Germanium Quantum Devices and Laser-Structured Surfaces community has seen its share decline to 0% of the element’s recent research, down from 5% previously. Tennessine is a minor presence in this field, with under 1% of its papers involving the element. A 2020 simulation study on tennessine nanoparticles, cited about 34 times, is the primary work associated with this community.

Overall, the composition of tennessine research has shifted away from actinide chemistry and toward radioligand therapy and fluorinated molecule synthesis, while synthesis and decay physics remains the dominant field.

For a deeper look at the current state of tennessine research, see the Last 12 Months and Executive Brief reports.