CERN Researchers Achieve Medieval Alchemists' Dream, Accidentally Turn Lead Into Gold
Summary
Scientists at CERN's Large Hadron Collider accidentally achieved the medieval alchemists' dream of transmuting lead into gold, albeit temporarily and on an infinitesimal scale, by colliding lead nuclei at near light speed.
Key Points
- Scientists at CERN accidentally turned lead into gold nuclei while conducting experiments with the Large Hadron Collider
- The lead nuclei released three protons due to the intense electromagnetic fields, effectively transmuting into gold nuclei
- While the gold nuclei were short-lived and minuscule in quantity, the achievement fulfills the dream of medieval alchemists