Californium is a radioactive metal that has not been produced yet because its compounds resist reduction. It is readily expected to be attacked by air, steam and acids. Discovered in 1950, its atomic number is 98. A traditional quilt block The Road to California represents #98.  It was a road with many perils. I have great admiration for the ancestors who settled our country. I included cactus, oxen, antelope and a lone wagon to commemorate the journey. I think I watched  way too many episodes of Wagon Train growing up!

This element was discovered in 1952 after studying debris produced by the first hydrogen bomb.

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I was stumped for an idea for this element so I shamelessly copied an image I found on the internet for Lawrencium. I didn’t have much chemistry, and all those spirals are Greek to me! I did learn something though — it’s fun to fuse and cut Angelina fibers, and even more fun to explore decorative stitch possibilities with metallic thread!