Latest news with #EuropeanOrganizationforNuclearResearch
The Star
20-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
QuickCheck: Can you turn lead to gold?
"Yer a wizard, Harry." "I'm a what?" THIS is the iconic scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when Hagrid reveals to wide-eyed Harry that he is a wizard. Hagrid goes on to explain that, being a wizard, Harry was capable of amazing feats we muggles can only dream about. However, even wizards in the world of Harry Potter have limitations. Bringing back the dead, for instance. Another is turning lead into gold - a feat only achieved by one wizard - Nicholas Flamel (based on the very real Frenchman in the 1300s who developed a reputation as an alchemist after his death). Alchemy - the medieval branch of speculative and philosophical chemical science aimed at turning metals (usually lead) into gold, despite being a subject taught in Hogwarts, was notoriously difficult even for a wizard with magical powers. So, we mere muggles have no hope, right? Can we turn lead into gold? Verdict: TRUE The wiz- er, scientists conducting mind-blowing experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have done the seemingly impossible. In a paper published in Physical Review Journals from the team at A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE), they detailed observing gold atoms forming during high-speed, near-miss collisions of lead nuclei. The result - 89,000 gold nuclei being produced every second, roughly amounting to just 29 trillionths of a gramme. Ok, not something to run to the pawn shop with any time soon, but impressive nonetheless. Whether it was witchcraft or pure hard science (my money is on the former), Mr. Flamel would be proud. References: 1. abstract/10.1103/PhysRevC.111. 054906 2. news/physics/alice-detects- conversion-lead-gold-lhc
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wait... Did the Large Hadron Collider Just Do Alchemy?
For centuries, great thinkers of the Greco-Roman, Islamic, Medieval, and even early Enlightenment worlds investigated the possibilities of alchemy—the process of transforming base metals (i.e. lead) into 'noble' metals, such as gold. Intellectual heavyweights like Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle frantically searched for recipes regarding the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with the power to transmute metals. Of course, nothing came of these investigations (other than the foundations of modern chemistry), but it turns out all Boyle, Newton, and the countless other intellectuals who pursued this alchemical dream needed was a 17-mile-long particle accelerator capable of flinging atoms at each other 99.999993 percent the speed of light. You know, the usual. In a paper published in Physical Review C from the team at A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), scientists detail how they technically practiced a little bit of alchemy— though not quite like luminaries of times past might have imagined. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is designed to smash particles together, but the machine can also perform what's known as 'near-miss collisions.' Pretty much exactly what they sound like, these near misses are actually more common throughout the universe than head-on particle collisions, and the electric fields surrounding these nuclei can form proton-proton or proton-nuclear interactions as they pass by. In the experiment, scientists created a near-miss collision with lead nuclei, which has a strong electromagnetic force due to its 82 protons. As the lead nuclei travels at near the speed of light, its magnetic field lines are 'squashed into a thin pancake,' according to CERN. This can produce a short pulse of photons that often triggers an 'electromagnetic dissociation.' This process excites the nucleus, which can result in the ejection of neutrons and protons. Using zero degree calorimeters (ZDC) to count the resulting interactions, ALICE tallied how often lead atoms shed one proton (thallium), two protons (mercury), and finally three protons, which is, of course, gold. Although thallium and mercury were more common byproducts of this 'electromagnetic dissociation,' Run 2 of the ALICE analysis, which lasted from 2015 to 2018, showed that the LHC created 86 billion gold nuclei. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, not really—that comes out to roughly 29 trillionths of a gram. These gold nuclei are also incredibly short-lived, only lasting for around a microsecond before smashing into something or breaking apart into other elements. 'It is impressive to see that our detectors can handle head-on collisions producing thousands of particles, while also being sensitive to collisions where only a few particles are produced at a time, enabling the study of electromagnetic 'nuclear transmutation' processes,' ALICE spokesperson Marco Van Leeuwen said in a press statement. According to CERN, the subsequent Run 3 produced double the amount of gold, but trillions less than required to make just a single piece of gold jewelry—probably not what ancient alchemists had in mind. However, ALICE isn't interested in finding some mythical transmutation stone. Instead, this collaboration probes the physics that results from heavy ion collisions, which create gluon-quark plasma similar to what likely permeated the universe only a millionth of a second after the Big Bang. Tracking even these trace amounts of 21st century alchemy can be a big boon for future experiments and colliders. 'The results also test and improve theoretical models of electromagnetic dissociation which, beyond their intrinsic physics interest, are used to understand and predict beam losses that are a major limit on the performance of the LHC and future colliders,' ALICE collaborator John Jowett said in a press statement. This past month, CERN completed a feasibility study regarding LHC's successor, currently named the Future Circular Collider (FCC). Once performing high-energy collisions by 2070, the FCC will produce science—and, as it would seem, alchemy—in ways beyond the wildest imagination of those famous fathers of modern science. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Engadget
11-05-2025
- Science
- Engadget
Scientists find lead really can be turned into gold (with help from the Large Hadron Collider)
One of the ultimate goals of medieval alchemy has been realized, but only for a fraction of a second. Scientists with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN, were able to convert lead into gold using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Unlike the examples of transmutation we see in pop culture, these experiments with the LHC involve smashing subatomic particles together at ridiculously high speeds to manipulate lead's physical properties to become gold. The LHC is often used to smash lead ions together to create extremely hot and dense matter similar to what was observed in the universe following the Big Bang. While conducting this analysis, the CERN scientists took note of the near-misses that caused a lead nucleus to drop its neutrons or protons. Lead atoms only have three more protons than gold atoms, meaning that in certain cases the LHC causes the lead atoms to drop just enough protons to become a gold atom for a fraction of a second — before immediately fragmenting into a bunch of particles. Alchemists back in the day may be astonished by this achievement, but the experiments conducted between 2015 and 2018 only produced about 29 picograms of gold, according to CERN. The organization added that the latest trials produced almost double that amount thanks to regular upgrades to the LHC, but the mass made is still trillions of times less than what's necessary for a piece of jewelry. Instead of trying to chase riches, the organization's scientists are more interested in studying the interaction that leads to this transmutation. "It is impressive to see that our detectors can handle head-on collisions producing thousands of particles, while also being sensitive to collisions where only a few particles are produced at a time, enabling the study of electromagnetic 'nuclear transmutation' processes," Marco Van Leeuwen, spokesperson for the A Large Ion Collider Experiment project at the LHC, said in a statement.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Alchemist's Dream Realized As Lead Turned Into Gold at Large Hadron Collider
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Fulfilling the dream of medieval alchemists, physicists have observed the transmutation of lead into gold—through nuclear physics at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful particle accelerator. For centuries, this idea of turning lead into gold—chrysopoeia—seemed out of reach. The two metals share a similar density, but modern science later proved they are distinct elements and chemically non-interchangeable. However, gold can be produced, albeit in microscopic amounts, at the heart of ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), one of the four main instruments on the LHC at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. The ALICE experiment is dedicated to heavy-ion physics and investigates matter under extreme energy densities. During high-energy collisions of lead nuclei at the LHC, scientists can momentarily recreate quark–gluon plasma, a state of matter that existed just millionths of a second after the Big Bang. Still, gold is not born from these direct crashes. Instead, it forms in a more subtle scenario—when lead nuclei almost collide head-on, but miss. "It is impressive to see that our detectors can handle head-on collisions producing thousands of particles, while also being sensitive to collisions where only a few particles are produced at a time, enabling the study of electromagnetic 'nuclear transmutation' processes," ALICE spokesperson Marco Van Leeuwen, said in a statement. An image of the tunnel inside a large hadron collider. An image of the tunnel inside a large hadron collider. Getty Images In near-miss encounters, intense electromagnetic fields surrounding the rapidly moving lead nuclei generate brief pulses of photons. T When these photons interact with nuclei, they cause a phenomenon known as electromagnetic dissociation, in which protons and neutrons are ejected from a nucleus. In rare cases, three protons are knocked out of a lead nucleus, leaving behind gold in its place. The ALICE team used specialized instruments known as Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDC) to measure these rare events. By detecting the number of protons and neutrons ejected in collisions, researchers were able to distinguish between the creation of other heavy elements like thallium and mercury—and gold. Sadly, the resulting gold nuclei do not stick around for long. Traveling at nearly the speed of light, they smash into the walls of the collider or its components and disintegrate almost instantly into smaller particles. Still, the numbers are impressive: during Run 2 of the LHC (2015–2018), about 86 billion gold nuclei were produced. Run 3 has already nearly doubled that count. Yet despite this, the total mass of gold created is vanishingly small—trillions of times less than what would be needed to make, say, a wedding ring. While that may dash the hopes of some, the experiment opens a new window into how elements are formed and how electromagnetic fields can manipulate atomic nuclei. It also highlights the extraordinary sensitivity of the ALICE detector, which was designed not for gold-making, but to probe the universe's earliest moments. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about particle physics? Let us know via science@ Reference ALICE Collaboration, Acharya, S., Agarwal, A., Aglieri Rinella, G., Aglietta, L., Agnello, M., Agrawal, N., Ahammed, Z., Ahmad, S., Ahn, S. U., Ahuja, I., Akindinov, A., Akishina, V., Al-Turany, M., Aleksandrov, D., Alessandro, B., Alfanda, H. M., Alfaro Molina, R., Ali, B., ... Zurlo, N. (2025). Proton emission in ultraperipheral Pb-Pb collisions at $sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=5.02$ TeV. Physical Review C, 111(5).
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Why do scientists want to spend billions on a 70-year project in the Swiss Alps?
The Large Hadron Collider has been responsible for astounding advances in physics: the discovery of the elusive, long-sought Higgs boson as well as other new exotic particles, possible hints of new forces of nature, and more. Located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on the border of France and Switzerland, the LHC is expected to run for another 15 years. Nevertheless, physicists are already planning what will come after it. One of the most favoured proposals for CERN's next step is the 70-year Future Circular Collider (FCC) project. More than three times the size of the LHC, this enormous proposed machine promises to resolve some mysteries of the universe – and undoubtedly reveal some new ones. What will the FCC do? The LHC, which occupies a circular tunnel 27 kilometres in circumference, is currently the largest machine in the world. The FCC would be housed in a much larger 91km tunnel in the Geneva basin between the Jura mountains and the Alps. The first stage of the FCC would be the construction and operation of a collider for electrons (the lightweight particles that make up the outer shell of atoms) and positrons (the antimatter mirror images of electrons). This collider would allow more precise measurements of the Higgs boson. The second stage would be a collider for protons (heavier particles found in the cores of atoms). The LHC already collides protons, but the new collider would accelerate the protons up to more than seven times as much energy. This increase in collision energy allows for the discovery of particles never produced by humanity before. It also brings with it technical challenges, such as the development of high-powered superconducting magnets. Known unknowns The most high-profile result from the LHC has been the discovery of the Higgs boson, which lets us explain why particles in the universe have mass: they interact with the so-called Higgs field which permeates all of space. This was a great victory for what we call the Standard Model. This is the theory that, to the best of our current knowledge, explains all the fundamental particles in the universe and their interactions. However, the Standard Model has significant weaknesses, and leaves some crucial questions unanswered. The FCC promises to answer some of these questions. For example, we know the Higgs field can explain the mass of heavy particles. However, it is possible that a completely different mechanism provides mass to lighter particles. We also want to know whether the Higgs field gives mass to the Higgs boson itself. To answer these Higgs questions we will need the higher energies that the FCC will provide. The FCC will also let us take a closer look at the interactions of very heavy quarks. (Quarks are the tiniest components of protons and some other particles.) We hope this may shed light on the question of why the universe contains so much more matter than antimatter. And the FCC will help us look for new particles that might be dark matter, a mysterious substance that seems to pervade the universe. Of course, there is no guarantee that the FCC will provide the answers to these questions. That is the nature of curiosity-driven research. You know the journey, but not the destination. Competing colliders The FCC is not the only major particle physics project under consideration. Another is a proposed 20-kilometre machine called the International Linear Collider, which would likely be built in Japan. The US has several projects on the go, mainly detectors of various kinds. It also supports an 'offshore Higgs factory', located in Europe or Japan. One project that may concern the FCC's backers is the planned 100 kilometre Chinese Electron Positron Collider (CEPC), which has significant similarities to the FCC. This poses a dilemma for Europe: if China goes ahead with their project, is the FCC still worthwhile? On the other hand, CERN chief Fabiola Gianotti has argued that the FCC is necessary to keep up with China. High costs The decision on the FCC won't be taken lightly, given the large cost associated with the project. CERN estimates the first stage will cost 15 billion Swiss francs (around US$18 billion or A$28 billion at current exchange rates), spread out over 12 years. One third of this cost is the tunnel construction. The size of the sum has attracted criticism. However, a CERN spokesperson told the Agence France-Press that up to 80% of the cost would be covered by the organisation's current annual budget. The second stage of FCC, which would reuse the 91km tunnel as well as some existing LHC infrastructure, is currently estimated to cost 19 billion Swiss francs. This costing carries a large uncertainty, as the second stage would not be commissioned until 2070 at the earliest. Benefits beyond science Pure science has not been the only benefit of the LHC. There have been plenty of practical technological spinoffs, from medical technology to open and free software. One specific example is the Medipix chips developed for a detector at the LHC, which are now used across multiple areas in medical imaging and material science. For the past 70 years, CERN has served as a fantastic model for peaceful and efficient international collaboration. Beyond its astonishing scientific output, it has also produced significant advances in engineering that have spread through society. Building the FCC will be an investment in both technology and curiosity. Tessa Charles is accelerator physicist and Ulrik Egede is professor of physics, both at Monash University. This article is republished from The Conversation.
