[Nateman]

They found that the proton and neutron in each alpha particle interacted much more strongly than in isotopes and other elements with similar numbers of protons and neutrons that have been previously studied.

What? Very unclear what is meant here An alpha particle is a helium atom without the electrons. Is it ejected slower or faster here?

[Red Badger]

Faster, I’d assume.

Now, if there are some ‘free’ electrons floating around....................

[Nateman]

I went and looked up other articles here. Apparently the nucleus formed was a little fatter than what they were expecting. Twice what was predicted. It suggests some internal reaction they have not known about previously. There were only two atoms formed so lots of uncertainty still remains.