Where does gold come from? - David Lunney
TED-Ed・3 minutes read
Gold on Earth originated from supernovae explosions in space and was dispersed throughout the universe, eventually forming Earth's gold veins through geothermal activity. While replicating the rapid process of creating gold in a supernova using particle accelerators is possible, it is inefficient and costly, making mass production impractical. Future sources of gold may include the ocean with its low concentrations of dissolved gold, as well as other planets in our solar system, indicating potential future gold rushes beyond Earth.
Insights
- Gold on Earth is a result of supernovae explosions in space, where the creation of heavier elements like gold occurred due to extreme pressure and nuclear fusion, with these elements being spread across the universe and eventually forming Earth's gold veins through geothermal processes.
- Despite the rapid creation of gold in supernovae, replicating this process on Earth through particle accelerators is feasible but inefficient and expensive, making mass production impractical. Future gold sources might include the ocean with its low concentrations of dissolved gold and potentially other planets in our solar system, indicating the possibility of future gold rushes beyond Earth.
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Recent questions
How did gold originate on Earth?
Gold on Earth originated from supernovae explosions in space, where extreme pressure and nuclear fusion created heavier elements like gold, which were then dispersed through the universe by shockwaves, eventually leading to the formation of Earth and its gold veins through geothermal activity.
How long does it take to create gold in a supernova?
The process of creating gold in a supernova is rapid, taking only seconds compared to the millions of years it takes for hydrogen to transform into helium.
Can gold be created on Earth using particle accelerators?
Replicating the process of creating gold in a supernova on Earth using particle accelerators is possible but highly inefficient and costly, making it impractical for mass production.
Are Earth's gold reserves abundant?
Earth's gold reserves are limited and costly to mine, with potential future sources including the ocean, which holds dissolved gold at low concentrations, and other planets in our solar system.
Is there a possibility of future gold rushes beyond Earth?
The presence of gold on other planets in our solar system hints at possible future gold rushes beyond Earth, expanding the scope of potential sources for this precious metal.
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Summary
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"Gold's Cosmic Origins and Future Prospects"
- Gold on Earth originated from supernovae explosions in space, where extreme pressure and nuclear fusion created heavier elements like gold, which were then dispersed through the universe by shockwaves, eventually leading to the formation of Earth and its gold veins through geothermal activity.
- The process of creating gold in a supernova is rapid, taking only seconds compared to the millions of years it takes for hydrogen to transform into helium. However, replicating this process on Earth using particle accelerators is possible but highly inefficient and costly, making it impractical for mass production.
- While Earth's gold reserves are limited and costly to mine, potential future sources include the ocean, which holds dissolved gold at low concentrations, and other planets in our solar system, hinting at possible future gold rushes beyond our planet.
