einsteinium neutrons are produced in very small amounts by bombarding other elements, such as uranium or plutonium, with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. This is a process called beta decay.
These neutrons are very radioactive (they emit energy) and can be used to create more stable elements like berkelium or californium. These heavier elements are then used in research.
The element is named after famed physicist Albert Einstein, who was a pacifist and opposed the hydrogen bomb. However, it is a very rare element and is only available in very small quantities.
It is very hard to study because it self-destructs and has many different isotopes. It can also be very dangerous to work with because it releases a lot of gamma and x-rays when it decays. This can cause it to glow and makes it difficult to obtain X-ray crystallographic data.
Some researchers have been able to study the properties of this element recently, using a new isotope. This isotope has 155 neutrons and has a half-life of 276 days.
Scientists are trying to understand how this element works by making more of it and testing it. They are looking for properties that will help them understand the actinides as a whole.
These studies will also give scientists a better understanding of how large atoms can bond with other elements. This will help them predict how different actinides are likely to behave in the future.
The researchers hope that this new information will be useful for nuclear power generation or radiopharmaceuticals.