has detected the transformation of lead into gold

Isaac Newton has gone down in history One of the most talented physicists and mathematicians that have existed. In fact, for many scholars it is The most relevant scientist who has existedand it is a very respectable statement if we ponder their contributions to science and the modest means that were available to the end of the 17th century. However, Newton did not dedicate his life only to physics, mathematics or theology; He also consecrated to the study of alchemy.

The Royal Spanish Academy defines it in its first meaning as “the set of speculation and experiences, generally of a esoteric nature, related to the transmutations of the subject, which influenced the origin of chemistry.” The second meaning is also a bit disturbing: “wonderful and incredible transmutation.” Alchemy as Isaac Newton and other explorers saw it, for identifying them in some way, does not have a scientific support. However, serious science has identified mechanisms that explain under what circumstances a chemical element can be transformed into another.

Newton would have loved to participate in this CERN experiment

The stars are The authentic chemical elements factories of the universe. Inside the reactions of nuclear fusion They trigger the production of the chemical elements that we can find in the periodic table until reaching iron. From the latter it is not possible Extremely energy cosmic events. As it is, nature has taught us that there are mechanisms capable of carrying out the transmutation with which the ancient alchemists dreamed.

In fact, Radioactivity It is one of these phenomena. We can define it as the process of natural origin that explains how an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy in the attempt to achieve a more stable state. And to achieve this emits radiation. A stable atom is “comfortable” with its current structure and does not need to do anything, but an unstable precise detach from a part of its energy to achieve a state of less energy and greater stability. On the way to a completely stable configuration, it will continue to detach itself from a part of its energy and will be transformed into other chemical elements.

Since nuclear physics arose at one time halfway between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century scientists have achieved transform some chemical elements into others In his laboratories. CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) has done it recently. And he has succeeded causing the frontal collision of lead nuclei in its main particle accelerator, the LHC (large hadron collider).

When these nuclei collide with a very high energy there is a plasma of quarks and gluones, which is nothing other than a state of extremely dense and hot matter. Each lead core has a considerable mass because it contains a large number of nucleons: 82 protons and 126 neutrons If we stick to the isotope of this most abundant and stable chemical element. Despite their mass each of them travels inside the LHC to 99,99993% of the speed of light, which triggers the production of a photon pulse.

Under these conditions, the most interesting thing is that a process known as electromagnetic dissociation takes place. It consists of when a photon interacts with a lead core has the ability to trigger oscillations of its internal structure that can cause the expulsion of a small amount of neutrons and protons. A golden core contains 79 protons, so the expulsion of 3 protons from a lead core causes it to become gold.

The physicists of the Alice of CERN experiment have observed, in addition to the conversion of lead to gold, Talium and Mercury production in these experimentation conditions. It is exciting that the human being has been able to design and build the machines that are necessary to carry out an experiment like this.

Image | Cern

More information | Physical Review c

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