Latest news with #IsaacNewton
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Startup claims it can make gold from mercury using fusion; science fiction turns real
From Sir Isaac Newton to the ancient Egyptians, some of the finest minds in history have been captivated by the prospect of converting base metals into gold. However, a Silicon Valley startup now asserts that, with the use of nuclear fusion technology, it has finally solved the age-old alchemical enigma. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Operations Management Design Thinking Management Leadership Product Management MBA CXO Artificial Intelligence Degree Healthcare Finance Digital Marketing Project Management Technology Others PGDM Data Science MCA others Data Science healthcare Data Analytics Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details By subjecting mercury isotopes to high-energy neutron bombardment, Marathon Fusion says it has found a way to turn mercury into gold. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Highest-Salary Jobs for 2025 When two hydrogen isotopes are pushed together to make helium, a process known as nuclear fusion, the neutrons are released. This implies that power generation and the alchemical process can coexist. Live Events "Our approach is economically irresistible, practically feasible, and massively scalable, in contrast to prior attempts," Marathon Fusion stated. "An entirely new golden age begins now." The company has released a scientific article on the proposed transmutation technology and is working on fuel processing and recycling methods for the emerging fusion industry. Peer review has not yet been done on it. Alchemy has been around for thousands of years, and its main goals have been turning metals into gold and finding an elixir of immortality. It has fascinated intellectuals for thousands of years, including Newton, the English physicist who created the mathematical law of universal gravitation in the latter part of the 17th century. The creation of a "philosopher's stone" that would act as a catalyst to turn base metals like lead into gold was a fantasy of many. Marathon's concept is based on using components from the well-known nuclear fusion process in its place. When two hydrogen isotopes, tritium and deuterium, are forced together to form helium, high-energy subatomic particles known as neutrons are released. This process is known as fusion. In order to achieve this, the deuterium and tritium atoms are heated to extremely high temperatures, more than 100 million degrees Celsius, and then confined to a small area, where they will clash. When helium atoms collide with the fuel particles, their energy is transferred and the reaction continues, making the process self-sustaining. However, in order to guarantee that there is always an adequate amount of tritium in the mixture, fusion reactors usually contain other elements, such as beryllium, lead, or lithium isotopes. Because they emit two neutrons in their place when struck by one, these are referred to as "multipliers." Tritium is subsequently created when these additional neutrons react with lithium. A radical change Mercury-198, a typical type of mercury, is used as a multiplier in Marathon's approach. These atoms transform into mercury-197, a less stable form, when struck by a neutron. Those atoms then spontaneously transform into a stable form of gold over a few days. According to Marathon, this implies that gold supplies could be produced as a byproduct of the fusion process "without any compromise to fuel self-sufficiency or power output." According to the business, a fusion power station with a one gigawatt capacity could produce 5,000 kilogrammes of gold annually using the new method. The business states that although the gold generated by the reaction is stable, it may contain some radioactive gold isotopes, which could require storage for up to 18 years. Marathon's techno-economic modelling indicates that fusion plants could generate as much economic value from the production of gold as they do from the production of electricity, potentially doubling the facilities' value and drastically altering the economics of fusion and energy in general, the start-up continued. In addition to gold, it stated that the transmutation process might be utilised to create materials for "nuclear batteries," medicinal isotope synthesis, and precious metals like palladium. Adam Rutkowski, a former engineer at SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket company, and Kyle Schiller, a fellow at Schmidt Futures, the research foundation founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, founded Marathon. The method allows power plants to produce 5,000 kg of gold annually each gigawatt of energy generated (~2.5 GWth) without sacrificing power output or fuel self-sufficiency, claims the startup. Leading investors including Strong Atomics and the 1517 Fund, as well as multiple grants from the US Department of Energy and the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program, fund Marathon Fusion. The Fusion community's reaction Leading scientists are excited about the pre-print even as it awaits proper peer review: "This new technology approach that Marathon Fusion is developing changes fundamentally how we should think about fusion as an energy source." — Dr. Per F. Peterson , Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering at U.C. Berkeley and Scientific Advisor to Marathon Fusion "The technology described could have a major impact on the economics of fusion energy if it's able to be fully realized and integrated into upcoming power plants. Improved economics could further relax some engineering and scientific requirements, accelerating the path to commercial deployment. This is potentially highly impactful, and I'll be paying close attention to the results of rigorous peer review" — Dr. Dan Brunner , former CTO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and Scientific Advisor to Marathon Fusion "The discovery of scalable gold transmutation by leveraging fusion neutrons could fundamentally shift the techno-economic landscape. Marathon Fusion's breakthrough—commercial-scale gold synthesis via nuclear reactions—redefines fusion economics and could unlock the capital needed for next-generation power plants." — Dr. Ahmed Diallo , Principal Research Physicist and Distinguished Research Fellow at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), and Scientific Advisor to Marathon Fusion
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nuclear fusion start-up claims to have cracked alchemy
The promise of turning base metals into gold has transfixed some of the greatest minds in history, from the ancient Egyptians to Sir Isaac Newton. But now a Silicon Valley start-up claims to have finally cracked the millennia-old riddle of alchemy – by using nuclear fusion technology. Marathon Fusion claims to have discovered a method of converting mercury into gold by bombarding mercury isotopes with high-energy neutrons. The neutrons are released during nuclear fusion, when two hydrogen isotopes are forced together to form helium. This means the alchemy process can be carried out alongside power generation. 'Unlike previous attempts, our method is massively scalable, pragmatically achievable, and economically irresistible,' Marathon Fusion said. 'This marks the beginning of a new golden age.' The company, which is developing ways of processing and recycling fuel for the nascent fusion industry, has published a scientific paper on the proposed transmutation method. It has not yet been peer-reviewed. The history of alchemy stretches back thousands of years and has long focused on transforming metals into gold and seeking an elixir of immortality. Over thousands of years, it has captivated thinkers such as Newton, the English physicist who developed the mathematical law of universal gravitation in the late 17th century. Many dreamed of creating a 'philosopher's stone' that would be used as a catalyst for transmuting base metals such as lead into gold. Marathon's idea relies on substituting materials used in the well-understood process of nuclear fusion instead. Fusion takes place when two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, are forced together to create helium, releasing high-energy subatomic particles called neutrons. It is accomplished by heating the deuterium and tritium atoms to extreme temperatures of more than 100 million degrees Celsius and then confining them into a tight space so that they collide. The process becomes self-sustaining when helium atoms collide with the fuel particles, transferring their energy and ensuring the reaction keeps going. But fusion reactors typically contain other materials, including isotopes of beryllium, lead, or lithium, to ensure there is continuously enough tritium in the mix. These are known as 'multipliers' because when they are hit by a neutron, they release two neutrons in their place. These extra neutrons then react with lithium to produce tritium. Radical transformation Marathon's method uses mercury-198, a common form of mercury, as a multiplier. When hit by a neutron, these atoms change into a less stable form called mercury-197. Over a few days, those atoms then naturally break down into a stable form of gold. Marathon claims this means the fusion process can be used to generate supplies of gold as a byproduct, 'without any compromise to fuel self-sufficiency or power output'. Using the new approach, the company says a fusion power plant with a capacity of about one gigawatt could generate 5,000 kilograms of gold per year. The gold produced by the reaction is stable, but could contain some radioactive gold isotopes, potentially meaning it must be stored for up to 18 years, according to the company. The start-up added: 'Marathon's techno-economic modelling suggests that fusion plants could create as much economic value from gold production as they do from electricity production, potentially doubling the value of these facilities, radically transforming the economics of fusion and of energy more broadly.' Beyond gold, it also claimed the transmutation process could be used for making precious metals such as palladium, synthesising medical isotopes, or producing materials for 'nuclear batteries'. Marathon was founded by Adam Rutkowski, a former engineer at Elon Musk's rocket company, SpaceX, and Kyle Schiller, who was a fellow at ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt's research foundation, Schmidt Futures. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
School plans to convert former pub into classrooms
An empty Grantham pub could be turned into a sixth-form centre by a nearby school. The King's School has applied to convert the former Five Bells on Brook Street for use by its Year 12 and 13 students. In its planning application, the boys' school said the revamped space would provide "teaching and study spaces specifically tailored to the needs of older students preparing for A-level examinations and university entrance". It would also be used for offices. Plans include removing the bar area, the cellars and the kitchen and converting them into smaller rooms. The application said "no significant external alterations are proposed" except possibly ramps and door widening to improve accessibility. The bid will be considered by South Kesteven District Council. The King's School's former pupils include Sir Isaac Newton and 18th Century Poet Laureate Colley Cibber. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here, to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Click here, to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices. Repairs and upgrades for schools across the county The King's School
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Grantham school plans to convert former pub into classrooms
An empty Grantham pub could be turned into a sixth-form centre by a nearby King's School has applied to convert the former Five Bells on Brook Street for use by its Year 12 and 13 its planning application, the boys' school said the revamped space would provide "teaching and study spaces specifically tailored to the needs of older students preparing for A-level examinations and university entrance".It would also be used for offices. Plans include removing the bar area, the cellars and the kitchen and converting them into smaller rooms. The application said "no significant external alterations are proposed" except possibly ramps and door widening to improve bid will be considered by South Kesteven District King's School's former pupils include Sir Isaac Newton and 18th Century Poet Laureate Colley to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here, to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here, to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
The Age
12-07-2025
- Science
- The Age
The indefinable algorithms of the spirit
What is the algorithm of the heart? Indeed, is there such a thing? I don't mean the mathematics behind the unceasing pump that sends blood streaming through the body. Though this is the source of a life, and without it a life is not. The heart is the prime example of the mechanics of existence. A person's assembly kit is an algorithm in action, that is the DNA. But what of the algorithms of the other chambers of the heart? Those, and I write of course figuratively, that produce tears of sorrow and joy; that generate the waves of emotion; that build the towers of our beliefs. They differ from pure calculus because they are not immutable. There are two strands; the algorithms of what matters spiritually; these can form the bedrock on which a life is built, core foundational creeds that are the base for a life of honesty and integrity; and there are the algorithms that when they change, so do we. It is here that one immutable law of physics can be warped – Isaac Newton's Third Law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The algorithm of love would say that for every one of its actions, be it word or touch, from one to another, the reaction cannot, must not, be an opposite one. If we cannot have faith in this equation of what it means to be human, then life is merely subdivision. Of course, the dark wraiths of war and hatred test the strength of that. Sending love in return to those aiming to kill and maim you has never worked. Turning the other cheek is not an option for survival. Type in what is an algorithm to a search engine and this is the answer: a set of instructions to achieve a result or solve a problem. Its partner in letters, the logarithm, simplifies calculations. The rise and accommodation of artificial intelligence into life cannot be rewound. Its phenomenal speed of calculation is altering how society does business with itself, and how people will react because of the information it can shoot out at the tap of a keyboard. But there is no AI answer to this, what was the first hope? Or to this, what will be the last hope? It's true that humankind is no saint as to living by the light of commonsense and intelligence. Stupidity is as much a player in history as any other element. Yet a life is kindled, nurtured, is busy being born throughout its days, because of a spiritual algorithm that cannot be erased. It is the song of the heart, indefinable.
