Gold, Finally! But Just a Smidgeon: Physicists Turn Lead into Gold at CERN
Transformed Lead Molecules into Gold Counterparts
Living the alchemist's dream? Not quite, but close. Scientists at CERN have made lead transmute into gold using their legendary particle accelerator. But don't get too excited - we're still far from the gold rush.
In the good old days, alchemists were chasing the infamous "Philosopher's Stone" for turning lead into gold. Fast forward to now, and that stone looks more like a 27-kilometer-long tunnel residing at CERN, the European research center based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Let's dive into the science behind this miraculous transformation. CERN's scientists collide lead nuclei at near light-speed, creating a new mechanism to measure the transformation of lead into gold. But relax, folks! No legendary gold treasure is in the works here.
Their funding mainly comes from Germany, and they're working on unraveling the origins of the universe. In intense lead nuclei collisions, they create plasma, believed to have existed in the universe shortly after the Big Bang. This plasma likely paved the way for the matter we know today [1].
Now, let's geek out over the nitty-gritty. When lead nuclei battle it out in the LHC tunnel, they often miss each other. The intense magnetic fields of these close calls can cause their internal structure to vibrate, which can eject neutrons and protons. To create gold (with 79 protons), they must eliminate three protons from a lead nucleus in the LHC beams [1].
While billions of gold nuclei are made, the amount is still directly proportional to disappointment. The quantity produced is astronomically small, several orders of magnitude below what's required for that shiny gold necklace [1]. Furthermore, the gold evaporates within a tiny fraction of a second, quashing any dreams of alchemical wealth [2].
So, while the dream of medieval alchemists has technically come true, their monetary aspirations are as elusive as ever. CERN published their discovery in the scientific journal "Physical Review Journals" [2]. The experiment that made it all possible is none other than "Alice," which has been in operation since 2015 [3].
Sources:
- https://www.ntv.de/wissenschaft/CERN-versucht-Bestehen-als-Urwelt-Labor-Zeitung-online,CERNA8944367.html
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210121110422.htm
- https://cds.cern.ch/record/2774149
- The experiment at CERN, similar to an alchemist's dream, has managed to turn lead into gold, but the outcome is far from a gold rush.
- Contrary to what alchemists were seeking, the "Philosopher's Stone" now resembles the 27-kilometer-long tunnel where CERN's research takes place.
- In a stark contrast to the alchemists' quest for wealth, funds for CERN's work primarily come from Germany, and their focus is on understanding the origins of the universe.
- Although gold has been successfully created in CERN's particle accelerator, the quantity produced is much too small to make any substantial wealth, evaporating within a fraction of a second.
- The achievement was published in the scientific journal "Physical Review Journals," and the experiment responsible for this breakthrough is named "Alice," a nod to CERN's alchemical legacy.
