Curium

Curium is a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 96. Produced mainly in nuclear reactors, it is named after Marie and Pierre Curie.

Curium-244: Curium-244 is a radioactive isotope of curium with a half-life of about 18 years. It is a relatively long-lived curium isotope used as a source of heat and alpha particles.
Radioisotope thermoelectric generator: A radioisotope thermoelectric generator converts heat from radioactive decay into electricity. Curium-244 has been considered as a heat source for these generators.
Glenn T. Seaborg: Glenn T. Seaborg was an American nuclear chemist who helped discover several transuranium elements. He led the team that identified curium in 1944.
Americium: Americium is a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 95, located immediately before curium. It is curium’s lighter neighbor and was discovered by the same research team.
Manhattan Project: The Manhattan Project was the United States-led program that developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II. Curium’s discovery emerged from wartime research conducted within this broader program.
Curium-242: Curium-242 is a radioactive curium isotope with a half-life of about 163 days. Its decay releases heat and alpha particles, supporting specialized power and research applications.
Alpha particle: An alpha particle is a helium-4 nucleus emitted during some forms of radioactive decay. Curium-244 sources supply alpha particles for specialized instruments and experiments.
Ralph A. James: Ralph A. James was an American chemist involved in the discovery of curium and americium. He helped isolate and identify curium at the University of California, Berkeley.
Berkelium: Berkelium is a radioactive metallic element with atomic number 97, immediately after curium. Its position next to curium makes it a direct comparison in actinide chemistry.
Transuranium element: A transuranium element is a chemical element with an atomic number greater than uranium’s 92. Curium belongs to this mostly synthetic group, produced through nuclear reactions.

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LivermoriumRelated: Curium-248 supplied the heavy target nuclei in the first livermorium-producing reaction.