Final answer:
Super-heavy elements are created by bombarding a target nucleus with more massive nuclei, leading to the formation of elements with greater atomic numbers, such as elements 114 and 116. Some isotopes have longer half-lives within the 'island of stability', with element 118 being the highest atomic number synthesized to date.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists create super-heavy elements above atomic number 107 by utilizing advanced nuclear techniques. When a target nucleus is bombarded with more massive nuclei, it can result in the formation of elements with significantly greater atomic numbers. This process of nucleosynthesis has been successful in synthesizing elements such as numbers 114 and 116, which lie in or near the conjectured 'island of stability'. In this realm, some isotopes exhibit surprisingly long half-lives, such as those of isotopes with atomic numbers 114 (Z = 114) and 116 (Z = 116). Furthermore, these elements are so incredibly ephemeral that they often decay within just a few seconds of their formation.
The synthesis of these super-heavy elements involves complex nuclear reactions. For instance, larger elements (atomic numbers 101 and above) are formed by fusing together the nuclei of smaller elements. This approach has extended the periodic table to elements such as element 118, which currently holds the highest acknowledged atomic number. Physicists and chemists continue to explore the nuanced properties of these elements, contributing to a deeper understanding of atomic science.