Developments in fission, fusion, cluster radioactivity and the extension of the periodic system of elements

The extension of the periodic system into various new areas is investigated. Experiments for the synthesis of superheavy elements and the predictions of magic numbers are reviewed. Different ways of nuclear decay are discussed like cluster radioactivity, cold fission and cold multifragmentation, including the recent discovery of triple fission of 252 Cf. Further on, investigations on hypernuclei and the possible production of antimatter-cluster in heavy-ion collisions are reported. Various versions of the meson field theory serve as effective field theories at the basis of modern nuclear structure and suggest structure in the vacuum which might be important for the production of hyper- and antimatter. A perspective for future research is given. (author)