Berkelium Zone
Berkelium was produced in a particle accelerator in 1949, at the University of California, Berkeley. A particle accelerator is used to speed up very small particles and atoms, which then collide with other atoms, converting them into a new element. Berkelium can only be made artificially in this way, and because of this only very small amounts have ever been created. Not a lot is known about its properties and because it is so rare it doesn’t have any commercial or technological uses.
In this general science zone you’ll meet 5 scientists working in a variety of fields. One is studying earthquakes and what they can tell us about our planet, while another is trying to improve WiFi signals by looking at how it travels in the home (and even through pets!). One scientist grows brain cells which can be used to repair damaged brains, one is helping to make safe chemicals to improve lives, one manages a research department by supporting life-saving research and education and one is an ecologist working with insects, plants and fish.