A tiny speck of Americium dust is at the heart of the common smoke detectors found in every home and business in North America and much of the developed world. This is the only instance of a commercial use for a synthetic element. Despite the absolutely negligible amount used - a gram of americium oxide is enough to make three million such units - the simple fact that a radioactive substance is being sold has caused alarm in the public. The case of a teenager in the early 90's, who was extracting and concentrating the americium from smoke detectors with the aim of making his own nuclear breeder reactor, received international attention. Fortunately, much public debate and education campaigns have in the intervening years diminished the concerns.

While we do sell a limited amount of real americium 241 in other offerings this cube has no trace of the stuff and merely holds a photo of a blob of the metal. It is thus free of any danger whatsoever as well as being much cheaper!