(a) The net flux through the coil is zero.
In fact, the magnetic field generated by the wire forms concentric circles around the wire. The wire is placed along the diameter of the coil, so we can imagine as it divides the coil into two emisphere. Therefore, the magnetic field of the wire is perpendicular to the plane of the coil, but the direction of the field is opposite in the two emispheres. Since the two emispheres have same area, then the magnetic fluxes in the two emispheres are equal but opposite in sign, and so they cancel out when summing them together to find the net flux.
(b) If the wire passes through the center of the coil but it is perpendicular to the plane of the wire, the net flux through the coil is still zero.
In fact, the magnetic field generated by the wire forms concentric lines around the wire, so it is parallel to the plane of the coil. But the flux is equal to

where

is the angle between the direction of the magnetic field and the perpendicular to the plane of the coil, so in this case

and so the cosine is zero, therefore the net flux is zero.
To make the nucleus more stable
Refer to the diagram shown below.
The basket is represented by a weightless rigid beam of length 0.78 m.
The x-coordinate is measured from the left end of the basket.
The mass at x=0 is 2*0.55 = 1.1 kg.
The weight acting at x = 0 is W₁ = 1.1*9.8 = 10.78 N
The mass near the right end is 1.8 kg.
Its weight is W₂ = 1.8*9.8 = 17.64 N
The fulcrum is in the middle of the basket, therefore its location is
x = 0.78/2 = 0.39 m.
For equilibrium, the sum of moments about the fulcrum is zero.
Therefore
(10.78 N)*(0.39 m) - (17.64 N)*(x-0.39 m) = 0
4.2042 - 17.64x + 6.8796 = 0
-17.64x = -11.0838
x = 0.6283 m
Answer: 0.63 m from the left end.