Dubnium is a synthetic element with the symbol Db and atomic number 105. It was first discovered in the 1970s by scientists in both the United States and the Soviet Union. Dubnium is classified as a transition metal and is part of the d-block of the periodic table. Due to its instability, it has no significant commercial applications and is primarily used for research purposes. Dubnium is named after the town of Dubna in Russia, where one of its discoverers worked. It is highly radioactive, with isotopes that have very short half-lives, making it difficult to study. As a result, much about its properties remains unknown.