The Synthetic Actinides-From Discovery to Manufacture

The first synthetic actinide element, neptunium, was discovered in 1940. The last element of the actinide series, lawrencium, was created for the first time in 1961. These and the nine other intervening elements have added a new dimension to science, technology, industry, medicine, and politics in an extraordinarily short period of time. Each synthetic actinide element from atomic number 93 to atomic number 98 (with the exception of berkelium, atomic number 97) can now be manufactured in essentially any desired quantity, a truly remarkable achievement.