<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>N</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>82</mml:mn></mml:math>Shell Quenching of the Classical<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi></mml:math>-Process “Waiting-Point” Nucleus<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">d</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mprescripts/><mml:none/><mml:mn>130</mml:mn></mml:mmultiscripts></mml:math>

First beta- and gamma-spectroscopic decay studies of the N=82 r-process "waiting-point" nuclide 130Cd have been performed at CERN/ISOLDE using the highest achievable isotopic selectivity. Several nuclear-physics surprises have been discovered. The first one is the unanticipatedly high energy of 2.12 MeV for the [pi g(9/2) multiply sign in circle nu g(7/2)] 1(+) level in 130In, which is fed by the main Gamow-Teller transition. The second surprise is the rather high Q(beta) value of 8.34 MeV, which is in agreement only with recent mass models that include the phenomenon of N=82 shell quenching. Possible implications of these new results on the formation of the A approximately 130 r-process abundance peak are presented.