Since the start of the war in Ukraine, almost two years have passed. The conflict is also taking place on a technological level, with advances being increasingly successful in this area. The drone, for example, becomes a formidable weapon on the battlefield.
One of the notable episodes in the war between Moscow and kyiv occurred almost a year ago. On March 1, 2023, Russia accused Ukraine of preparing “nuclear provocations”ensuring that radioactive materials had been transported to the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odessa, asagence Anadolu reported it to us.
“On February 16, containers filled with radioactive substances, with labels in English, were delivered from one of the European states […] evading customs inspectiondetailed Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press release. On February 19, similar containers containing a radioactive substance, ‘californium-252’ […] were delivered on board a carrier.”
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But what is the famous californium-252 or Cf-252? An article published on the platform Medium gives us some answers concerning the nature and cost of this substance considered to be the most expensive synthetic element in the world that can be obtained…
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Why Does Californium-252 Cost $27 Million Per Gramhttps://t.co/223nl3Um9f
— Physics In History (@PhysInHistory) April 15, 2023
$27 million per gram
Californium-252, a radioactive isotope of the element californium, was first synthesized in 1950 at the University of California, Berkeley. The fact that it is a synthetic element means that it is not present naturally on Earth: it must be produced in the laboratory.
Currently, it is one of the most expensive materials in the world. If it is so appreciated, it is thanks to its unique properties, as well as its many uses.
To produce this radioactive isotope, it is necessary to bombard plutonium-239 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor, emphasizes the author of the article. The resulting californium-252 will then be separated from other materials and purified: a costly and time-consuming process.
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Special equipment and expertise are required to carry out this complex production process, as the particles it emits can prove dangerous to human health if not handled correctly.
Problem is, the demand for californium-252 is relatively low, like the lifespan of the material which disintegrates after a little over two years. To maintain a stable supply, it must therefore be produced continuously.
So many points which lead to a high cost: 27 million dollars per gram.
Oil exploration and cancer treatment
Despite these obstacles, californium-252 – which is a silvery-white metal that is malleable and ductile, allowing it to be easily stretched and shaped – is highly prized. The fact that it is highly radioactive and emits neutron and alpha particles makes it useful in a variety of jobs requiring a powerful neutron source.
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It is, for example, used in the context of oil exploration to detect and measure deposits at depth.
It can also be used in the production of other synthetic elements or to control the rate of nuclear fission, Medium concludes. Finally, even more surprisingly, it proves valuable in the treatment of cancer, since it helps destroy malignant cells.
2024-02-14 16:14:28
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