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This radioactive "rare earth metal" was named after Alfred Nobel, who is credited with the discovery of dynamite.
As it is very unstable, synthetic nobelium has no practical applications, nor does it have any biological role. The element was produced by the irradiation of atoms of actinide elements with heavy ions, such as bombarding californium with carbon. However, only small amounts were produced as nobelium only has a half-life of 58 minutes. Large quantities of this element could pose a biological threat.