Physicists at CERN have accidentally turned lead into gold while attempting to replicate conditions just after the Big Bang. The transformation occurred during experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, where lead nuclei are smashed together at near-light speeds.
The process involves stripping three protons from a lead nucleus, which changes it into gold. This is achieved through the immense electric fields generated when lead nuclei graze past each other without colliding head-on. The fields are strong enough to overcome the strong nuclear force holding the nucleus together, causing protons to be ejected.
The amount of gold produced is minuscule—around 29 trillionths of a gram in total. The ALICE experiment detectors count the stripped protons, indirectly confirming the creation of gold nuclei. Other elements such as thallium and mercury are also produced when fewer protons are removed.
Despite the historical allure of alchemy, the gold production is actually a nuisance for scientists. The transformed nuclei deviate from their intended orbits and collide with the accelerator walls, reducing beam intensity. However, understanding this process is crucial for interpreting experimental results and designing future colliders.
