Curium-244 is a radioactive isotope of the element curium, which is part of the actinide series in the periodic table. It has an atomic number of 96 and is produced through the decay of plutonium or by bombarding neptunium with neutrons. Curium-244 has a half-life of about 18.1 years, making it relatively stable compared to other isotopes. This isotope emits alpha particles and is primarily used in scientific research and as a source of neutrons in various applications. Due to its radioactivity, handling curium-244 requires strict safety protocols to protect against radiation exposure.