Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Turning mercury into gold? Nuclear reactors may revive ancient dream of alchemy
Interesting Engineering ^ | July 24, 2025 | Abhishek Bhardwaj

Posted on 07/24/2025 11:28:52 AM PDT by Red Badger

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: takebackaustin

Then they wouldn’t be green!............


21 posted on 07/24/2025 11:56:49 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: mass55th

IMHO the Alchemy version of “Telegraph Road” is the greatest song ever on a live album.


22 posted on 07/24/2025 11:59:32 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“First, Get a Nuclear Fusion Reactor.................”

Hmm, Reading through it this seems it seems like a viable DIY application for a tabletop IEC fusor.

Admittedly at 10^13 neutrons/sec it might take a few months to make a noticeable amount of admittedly annoying gold-mercury amalgam, but hey, it’s doable in a garage.

Actually IEC fusors can be scaled in interesting ways that might improve the yield.

So if the fusion reactor produces enough gold to pay for itself, is that break-even?


23 posted on 07/24/2025 12:00:55 PM PDT by no-s (Caja del Orador, Caja de Papeletas, Caja del Jurado, Caja de Cartuchos ... ya sabes cómo va...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

And you can get mercury from burning coal.


24 posted on 07/24/2025 12:02:44 PM PDT by Cold Heart (BP S GW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: takebackaustin

Good question!
It was tried but it creates a radioactive version of Au.
Pretty much worthless.


25 posted on 07/24/2025 12:05:58 PM PDT by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

And eating tuna.............


26 posted on 07/24/2025 12:08:50 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Problem.

If gold floods the market, guess what happens to the price of gold?


27 posted on 07/24/2025 12:14:18 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Maybe they could use Dilithium Crystals to power the matter/antimatter reactor to do this.


28 posted on 07/24/2025 12:19:45 PM PDT by 1FreeAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1FreeAmerican

No neutrons to use....................


29 posted on 07/24/2025 12:20:16 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote

The file with the Flux Capacitor?


30 posted on 07/24/2025 12:22:42 PM PDT by 1FreeAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

Gold would become as common as aluminum. It has many uses that it can be used for but cannot because the cost is prohibitive. We would see it everywhere..................


31 posted on 07/24/2025 12:25:52 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: no-s

I predict an actual Mr. Fusion device would be in everybody’s home..............


32 posted on 07/24/2025 12:26:53 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

>> First, Get a Nuclear Fusion Reactor...

Harbor Freight has them. Not the best quality but ok for occasional use.


33 posted on 07/24/2025 12:28:30 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

First one needs a bit of Philosophers Stone


34 posted on 07/24/2025 12:31:01 PM PDT by abigkahuna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

That may actually happen!................


35 posted on 07/24/2025 12:31:59 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

bttt


36 posted on 07/24/2025 12:32:15 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Bkmk


37 posted on 07/24/2025 12:41:20 PM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

No Twilight Zone references. Disappointing


38 posted on 07/24/2025 12:42:26 PM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

How to turn Mercury into Gold:

First, Get a Nuclear Fusion Reactor.................

~~~

So maybe the ‘philosphers stone’ was heavily radioactive


39 posted on 07/24/2025 12:44:33 PM PDT by z3n (Kakistocracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

How about seeing the produced energy for the USEFUL ‘gold’ that it is….


40 posted on 07/24/2025 12:45:49 PM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson