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ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC

https://lemmy.world/post/29603010

ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC - Lemmy.World

> 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.

May 13, 2025 at 7:04pmWeb
Show threadKittenBiscuitsMay 13, 2025

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

Show threadVenus_ZiegenfalleMay 13, 2025
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.
Show threadvillainyMay 13, 2025
Humanity’s history with gold would suggest that it has extremely capable of melting brains.
Show threadKittenBiscuitsMay 15, 2025
True. There was that one annoying dude on GoT that experienced such.
Show threadMisseuseMay 13, 2025
Wake up babe the latest philosophers stone LHC just dropped
Show threadNONEMay 13, 2025
And this time you don’t need to sacrifice hundreds of prisoners to make it work! (As far as I know).
Show threadSanctusMay 13, 2025
Idk everything is pretty crazy right now. I think some equivalent exchange happens every time you turn that thing on.
Show threadmctoastersonMay 14, 2025
Watch crypto miners will be trying to build LHCs in their yard with asinine electricity costs to make a few micrograms of gold.