Discovered : by O. Hahn and L. Meitner in Berlin, Germany, and independently by K. Fajans in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Frederick Soddy and co-workers in Glasgow, UK, in 1917 Origin : The name is derived from the Greek ‘protos aktino’, meaning first ray. Description : A radioactive metal, small amounts of which are found naturally in uranium ores. It is also extracted in gramme amounts from spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors. Image : Japanese monogram for 'ichi' - number one.