Europium is a natural rare-earth element, Atomic Number 63, whose effects were first demonstrated by Kulan Dar of Planet Julnar.
History
It facilitates teleportation but also leaves the user open to the power of suggestion.[1]
Effects
The Atom encountered the miniscule Kulan Dar when Dar snuck into his Ivy University lab to steal Element Number 63, which Palmer immediately realized was the element Europium on Earth. On Julnar, the inhabitants were able to teleport astronomical distances by ingesting large amounts of the rare-earth element Europium. Once ingested, the teleportation ability lasted for 60 earth-hours or until the charge was used up. Further, a cosmic ionization field would neutralize Europium and the teleportee would need to apport on the nearest safe point.[1]
Side Effects
Europium left the user open to the power of suggestion, leaving them at the mercy of those that would use them for their own gain, such as Carl Ballard who secretly forced his henchmen to inject Europium. While they were susceptible to suggestion, he implanted the idea that when the lights went out in their jail cells, they would teleport to his hideout.
The Europium also worked on heroes such as The Atom, who was forced to ingest it and then told that he would teleport to Africa whenever he saw the criminal, Carl. Ironically, Carl Ballard himself was allergic to Europium,[2] and could not take advantage of teleportation.
Notes
- Europium, though extremely rare and expensive, is available for purchase, yet was never used again for teleportation in Earth-One. Carl Ballard was unable to teleport because he was allergic to Europium, and it is unknown what ill effects his henchmen suffered from ingesting the element, which reacts violently in water.
Trivia
- In the outside world, Europium is a highly reactive metal -- decomposing in water, violently producing flaming hydrogen gas. Though the metal alone may be mildly toxic; it is pyrophoric; auto-igniting above 180 degrees Celsius or in the form of Europium dust.[3]
See Also
- Appearances of Europium
- Item Gallery: Europium
- Images featuring Europium