Protactinium is an exotic element little known outside of nuclear laboratories. Although just 5% as radioactive as the far better known radium, this metal has essentially zero uses even within research circles. A big part of the reason is its extreme rarity in nature, with yields typically only in the parts per billion range even in uranite, where its concentration is highest.

Rather than bother with the difficult and expensive process of extracting it from its natural sources, the few scientists who study its properties have an abundant and ever growing supply in the form of nuclear waste. Spent nuclear fuel generates a huge amount of waste material a significant portion of which is rich in the isotopes of this element. When needed, all these scientists need to do is head out to the back shed here all those drums with the radioactive decals are stored and they get their fill.