ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC
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.
https://www.home.cern/news/news/physics/alice-detects-conversion-lead-gold-lhcOpen linkView original on lemmy.world
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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
Humanity's history with gold would suggest that it is extremely capable of melting brains.
True. There was that one annoying dude on GoT that experienced such.
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.
Wake up babe the latest philosophers
stoneLHC just droppedAnd this time you don't need to sacrifice hundreds of prisoners to make it work! (As far as I know).
Idk everything is pretty crazy right now. I think some equivalent exchange happens every time you turn that thing on.
Watch crypto miners will be trying to build LHCs in their yard with asinine electricity costs to make a few micrograms of gold.