By: Jessica Robertson
Californium (Cf) has not been
thought to be one of the most glamorous elements of the periodic table, but
that could soon be a different story thanks to a team of chemists at Florida
State University. Their careful research has shown californium to have an
uncanny ability to bond and separate other materials, all the while being
highly resistant to any radiation damage. The lead researcher has called it
“almost too good to be true,” and “wicked stuff,” after seeing the exciting
qualities of the previously unimpressive element.
The
real-world application of such findings could entirely shift the scientific
paradigm in the realm of nuclear chemistry. Storage containers built of
californium could safely hold radioactive waste, while other californium based
methods could be used to separate radioactive fuel, meaning the radioactive
fuel could be recycled.
Currently,
the cost of californium is extremely high, but its promising ability to
overcome the problem of nuclear waste in our world makes this research an
entirely worthwhile pursuit.
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