New developments in nuclear spectroscopy of prompt emission at the target and decay emission at the focal plane of recoil separators are described here. In-beam \gamma -ray measurements of even--even nuclei in the rotational superheavy region, ^252,254No, have been carried out. These measurements have revealed the properties of the ground state rotational bands. Attempts to measure the properties of odd mass nuclei await the further development of conversion electron spectroscopy, and early results from the SACRED spectrometer used in conjunction with the recoil separator RITU are given here. The future development of sensitive focal plane instruments, to identify decay processes following the radioactive decay of the parent nucleus is also described.

PACS numbers: 21.10.--k, 23.20.Lv, 23.20.Nx, 23.60.+e