Context:  Recently, a team of scientists at the Berkeley Lab (Califirnia) has reported some of the properties of element 99 in the periodic table called “Einsteinium”, named after Albert Einstein. 

About Einsteinium

• Einsteinium was discovered in 1952 in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb - “Ivy Mike” - in the Pacific Ocean. 
• Since its discovery, scientists have not been able to perform a lot of experiments with it because it is difficult to create and is highly radioactive. Therefore, very little is known about this element.
• Synthetic element: Because of its high radioactivity and short half-life, Einsteinium, though present on Earth during its formation, has most certainly decayed. This is the reason that it cannot be found in nature and needs to be manufactured.
• Therefore, the element has been produced in very small quantities and its usage is limited for the purposes of scientific research. 
• Not visible to the naked eye: Therefore, after its discovery, it took over nine years to manufacture enough of it so that it could be seen with the naked eye.
• No known uses:  It’s an element without a role in life. Therefore, there is no reason to make einsteinium, except as an element to produce something else.

Significance of new study

• First time researchers have been able to characterise some of the properties of the element.
• The scientists were able to examine this element to find out how it bonds with atoms. 
• This may help in finding other elements and isotopes that may be useful for nuclear power production and radiopharmaceuticals.