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Scientists in Switzerland have managed to turn lead into gold during experiments with ALICE, a machine that studies powerful collisions between heavy atoms.
When lead atoms nearly crash into each other but just miss, they create strong energy fields that knock particles out of the atom. In rare cases, three protons are removed from a lead atom, leaving behind gold.
“It’s amazing our machines can spot both big crashes and these rare, gentle events,” said ALICE team leader Marco Van Leeuwen.
In one round of tests, scientists created 86 billion gold atoms. But the gold disappears almost instantly, flying into the machine walls and breaking apart. There isn’t even enough to see with the eye, let alone make a ring.
Still, the discovery helps scientists understand how elements like gold form in space, and shows how sensitive their tools are.
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