Startup Announces Ambitious Plan to Transform Mercury into Gold through Fusion Energy, Catching the Attention of Scientific Community
In a groundbreaking development, a relative newcomer in the fusion industry, Marathon Fusion, has unveiled a plan to produce gold through nuclear fusion reactions. The startup, which has raised $5.9 million in private funding and $4 million in U.S. government grants, employs just a dozen full-time staff [1].
The company's innovative approach involves using high-energy neutrons produced in nuclear fusion reactions, specifically within tokamak fusion reactors, to transmute mercury-198 isotopes into stable gold-197 [2]. This process, if proven viable, would simultaneously generate power and produce gold, potentially yielding about five tonnes of gold per gigawatt of electricity generated annually.
However, it's important to note that this method is still at an early stage. The findings have been published in a preprint paper but have not yet undergone peer review. While promising, scientific challenges remain, including demonstrating scalable, efficient fusion neutron production suitable for economic transmutation, enriching mercury isotopes to 90% purity for optimal reaction rates, managing and safely handling radioactive intermediates and fusion reactor materials, and proving cost-effectiveness compared to traditional gold mining or recycling [1][2][3].
The gold produced may require storage for over a decade before it can be considered safe to handle or sell. Additionally, the proposal involves the potential formation of unstable, radioactive varieties of gold when natural mercury is exposed to neutrons [2].
The idea of nuclear transmutation isn't new; physicists at CERN reported earlier this year that they observed lead atoms transforming into gold in rare high-speed collisions inside the Large Hadron Collider [4].
Marathon Fusion presented its work to Bill Gates at the 2024 Breakthrough Energy Summit in London. If successful, the gold revenue could accelerate fusion development across the industry, according to Malcolm Handley, a founding investor of Marathon [1].
The startup believes the process could be adapted to create other precious metals, but gold, with its steady demand and limited supply, is considered ideal [1]. Dr. Ahmed Diallo, a plasma physicist at the Department of Energy's Princeton laboratory, has expressed intrigue and excitement about the plan [1].
It's worth noting that fusion companies have collectively raised $2.6 billion in the past year, bringing global investment to nearly $10 billion across 53 firms, according to the Fusion Industry Association [5]. Marathon's approach, if proven viable, would use the same neutrons needed for fusion power to create gold, rather than relying on billion-dollar particle beams [2].
References: 1. Marathon Fusion 2. Marathon Fusion Transforms Mercury into Gold 3. Fusion-Powered Gold Production: Challenges and Opportunities 4. CERN Scientists Observe Lead Transforming into Gold 5. Fusion Industry Association
- Marathon Fusion's disruptive plan to generate gold through nuclear fusion reactions promises the simultaneous production of power and valuable precious metals, particularly gold.
- The startup's innovative method involves using high-energy neutrons produced in tokamak fusion reactors to transmute mercury-198 isotopes into stable gold-197.
- Despite the promising potential, the process is still in its early stages, with scientific challenges remaining, such as efficient fusion neutron production, mercury isotope enrichment, and radioactive waste management.
- If successful, Marathon Fusion's research could revolutionize the tech and finance industries, accelerating fusion development and boosting the economy with gold revenue.
- The idea of nuclear transmutation isn't novel; physicists at CERN have previously observed lead atoms transforming into gold in high-speed collisions.
- As the tech world pours billions into fusion research, Marathon Fusion's approach could prove a game-changer, using fusion neutrons for gold production instead of expensive particle beams, heralding a new era of science and innovation for earth and space exploration.
