Historical eventMarch 142017

Nihonium

A naming ceremony for the chemical element nihonium takes place in Tokyo, with then Crown Prince Naruhito in attendance.

Everything on March 14Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, March 14 20179 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2010s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2017.

What came beforeAI-assisted

Nihonium was first synthesized in 2004 by Japanese researchers at RIKEN's Nishina Center by bombarding bismuth with zinc ions. The element filled a gap in the periodic table at atomic number 113.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially recognized nihonium in November 2016 after confirming the discovery met scientific standards. Japan's research team had proposed the name, derived from Nihon, the Japanese name for Japan.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

RIKEN's Nishina Center team, led by physicist Kosuke Morita, conducted the original synthesis and discovery. Crown Prince Naruhito (now Emperor) attended the formal naming ceremony in Tokyo as a representative of the Japanese state.

TimelineAI-assisted

2004: Element 113 first synthesized at RIKEN. November 2016: IUPAC officially named it nihonium. March 14, 2017: Formal naming ceremony held in Tokyo with Crown Prince Naruhito present.

What happened

A naming ceremony for the chemical element nihonium takes place in Tokyo, with then Crown Prince Naruhito in attendance.

March 14 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1988Johnson South Reef skirmish
  2. 1991Escondida
  3. 1995Norman Thagard
  4. 20062006 Chadian coup attempt
  5. 2006Operation Bringing Home the Goods
  6. 2007Nandigram violence
  7. 20082008 Tibetan unrest
  8. 2017Nihonium
  9. 2019Cyclone Idai
  10. 2021Tatmadaw
  11. 2021Hlaingthaya massacre

Also in 2017

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  • October 20Syrian civil warSyrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declare victory in the Raqqa campaign.
  • June 14Grenfell Tower fireA fire severely damaged Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London, killing 72 people.
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  • September 32017 North Korean nuclear testNorth Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test at Punggye-ri, causing a magnitude-6.3 earthquake.
  • September 3North KoreaNorth Korea conducts its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
  • November 5Sutherland Springs church shootingDevin Patrick Kelley kills 26 and injures 22 in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Everything we record for 2017 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Nihonium”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/nihonium-2017-march-14, accessed October 27, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Nihonium happen?

March 14 2017 — 9 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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