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Rare element could store radioactive waste

An element on the fringe of the periodic table could help build safe new storage containers for radioactive waste, help separate radioactive fuel, and allow fuel to be recycled.

Researchers have found that element californium - or Cf - can bond and separate other materials. They also found it was extremely resistant to radiation damage.

The fringe element is very expensive - US$1.4 million for five milligrams - but scientists believe it has a real world application that could open up a whole new world of nuclear chemistry.

Read more at Florida State University

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