The ALICE analysis shows that, during Run 2 of the LHC (2015–2018), about 86 billion gold nuclei were created at the four major experiments. In terms of mass, this corresponds to just 29 picograms (2.9 ×10-11 g). [...] While the dream of medieval alchemists has technically come true, their hopes of riches have once again been dashed.
I mean, we still can't turn a ring of lead into a ring of gold, but this is really neat.
8 Comments
KittenBiscuits@lemm.ee · 16 pts · 1y
Lead, thallium, mercury... metals not friendly to direct human contact. I find it rad that if we add a few more protons we get a pretty, shiny metal that won't melt our brains.*
*that we know of
villainy@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 1y
Humanity's history with gold would suggest that it is extremely capable of melting brains.
KittenBiscuits@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y
True. There was that one annoying dude on GoT that experienced such.
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org · 2 pts · 1y
Also we've basically made the dreams of alchemists a reality. Still in the proof of concept stage but it's now safe to say the idea of turning less valuable stuff into gold isn't as crazy as it initially sounds.
Misseuse@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1y
Wake up babe the latest philosophers
stoneLHC just droppedNONE_dc@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
And this time you don't need to sacrifice hundreds of prisoners to make it work! (As far as I know).
Sanctus@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
Idk everything is pretty crazy right now. I think some equivalent exchange happens every time you turn that thing on.
mctoasterson@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 1y
Watch crypto miners will be trying to build LHCs in their yard with asinine electricity costs to make a few micrograms of gold.