An abstract metal symbol is against a background of vibrant colours representing the creation of the element in nuclear reactors.

Fact Box

Uses

Because it is so rare, berkelium has no commercial or technological use at present.

History

Berkelium was first produced in December 1949, at the University of California at Berkeley, and was made by Stanley Thompson, Albert Ghiorso, and Glenn Seaborg. They took americium-241, which had first been made in 1944, and bombarded it with helium nuclei (alpha particles) for several hours in the 60-inch cyclotron. The americium itself had been produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons.