Heavy and super-heavy nuclei and elements: production and properties

The advances in understanding and producing heavy and super-heavy elements is the subject of this topical collection. The main covered subjects are: the description of the theory, developments of super-heavies and the determination of the Island of Stability as well as the role of these nuclei as part of the r-process scenario. The accurate determination of reaction processes are crucial to enable advances in the production of the heaviest elements. A short summary of the achievements at some of the facilities, their improved spectrometers and recent spectroscopy results complete this topical collection.