Nobelium is a synthetic element with the atomic number 102 and symbol No. As a member of the actinide series, it possesses heavy and unstable nuclei, making it highly radioactive and difficult to work with. It was first synthesized in 1966 by bombarding curium-248 with carbon ions. Nobelium is so unstable that it decays within minutes of its creation and has no known biological role. Its most practical application is in scientific research, particularly in the fields of nuclear physics and chemistry.