GSI laboratory sign. Sign of the Society for Heavy Ion Research (Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforsch- ung, GSI) centre at Darmstadt, Germany, where the 6 heaviest- known chemical elements have been made. Elements 107 to 112 were created by a team led by Peter Armbruster during 1981-96. They are made by bombarding a target with beams of fast heavy ions from GSI's UNILAC accelerator. The atomic nuclei undergo fusion reactions to form new elements & forms (isotopes) of other elements. These allow studies of the forces binding nuclei together. The sign is made from an early piece of equipment which the GSI team used to prove that their techniques were feasible. Photographed in 1997.