The element radium can be found in extremely tiny amounts in the Earth’s crust and oceans, and in its pure form it is a soft silvery metal. To an untrained eye, a small piece of radium may look like a ...

Nearly 80 years after scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered an extremely rare radioactive element called promethium, a team at the lab published a landmark study on the subject that ...

From ancient coins to modern markets, gold has shaped money for centuries. Its physical properties help explain why it continues to hold a unique place in finance.

Scientists have revealed key properties of radioactive promethium, a rare earth element with poorly understood applications, using a groundbreaking new method. When you purchase through links on our ...

In 1902 Ernest Rutherford and Frederick Soddy discovered that radioactive elements, such as uranium and thorium, broke down into other elements in a predictable sequence or series. This amazing fact ...

In this lesson, students will simulate the randomness of decay in radioactive atoms and visualize the half-life of a sample radioactive element. This lesson can be completed in two (2) 45-minute class ...

Malaysia’s government renewed Australian miner Lynas Rare Earths' operating license for 10 years but will require it to stop producing radioactive waste by 2031. The Lynas refinery in Malaysia, its ...

When most people hear the word radiation, their mind jumps straight to nuclear disasters, such as at Chernobyl or Fukushima. But radiation is everywhere. In fact, right now, as you read this, you are ...

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. “What is radium and why is it dangerous?” – ...