"Einsteinium does not occur naturally in any measurable quantities. The modern process of creating the element starts with the irradiation of plutonium-239 in a nuclear reactor for several years. The resulting plutonium-242 isotope (in the form of the compound plutonium(IV) oxide) is mixed with aluminium and formed into pellets. The pellets are then further irradiated for approximately one year in a nuclear reactor. Another four months of irradiation is required in a different reactor. The result is a mixture of californium and einsteinium, which can then be separated....Further einsteinium has been produced at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor in Tennessee by bombarding 239Pu with neutrons. Around 3 milligrams were created over a four year program of irradiation and then chemical separation from a starting 1 kg of plutonium isotope... Though only small amounts have been made, it has been determined to be silver-colored." - bob

Another Element. - Ashish

Why the hell would somebody spend 4 years to make a few mg of Es? It seems like a rather pointless waste of money (or at least time). - Gabe

the government wastes money on worse things - id rather know something about an obscure unstable element than blow up some more of a random country :P - bob