Latest news with #MarcoVanLeeuwen
The Print
14-05-2025
- Science
- The Print
How CERN's collider achieved modern alchemy—turning lead to gold in a trillionth of a gram
'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,' said Marco Van Leeuwen, ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) spokesperson, in a statement. Scientists observed a real-life transmutation of lead into gold through a new mechanism involving near-miss interactions between atomic nuclei. But each of these gold particles is the size of a nucleus, and lasted barely a second before being destroyed in the collider. During the LHC's second run between 2015 and 2018, around 86 billion gold nuclei were created from smashing lead atoms at 99.999993 percent the speed of light. New Delhi: CERN's announcement on May 8 that its Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can turn lead to gold was the Holy Grail for alchemists from the middle ages. This is the biggest discovery since the 'god particle' (Higgs Boson) and the 'beauty particle' (bottom quark). ThePrint explains the science behind the magic. Also Read: Search for an Indian Carl Sagan is on. Science influencers are being trained in labs and likes How it was done CERN caught the gold bug back as a side quest nearly two decades ago while working on the fundamental particles (smallest known building blocks of the universe) and forces (four forces of nature responsible for how matter behaves), when it started running the LHC. During the second run, the LHC produced 29 picograms of gold. A picogram is one trillionth of a gram. In the third run, which has been operational since 2022, the amount produced was almost double that of the second run but trillions of times less than what would be required to make a piece of jewellery. The third run, which will continue till 2026, has higher collision energy compared to its second run, improved detector performance, and collected more data. The detector's zero degree calorimeters (ZDCs) counted photon–nucleus interactions that led to the emission of zero, one, two or three protons, along with at least one neutron. ZDCs—which are specialised calorimeters used to detect and measure very small particles or radiation—are associated with the production of lead, thallium, mercury and gold. 'While less frequent than the creation of thallium or mercury, the results show that the LHC currently produces gold at a maximum rate of about 89,000 nuclei per second from lead–lead collisions at the ALICE collision point,' the CERN statement read. A flash of gold The gold nuclei emerged from the collision with very high energy and hit the LHC beam pipe or collimators (devices that shape or direct beams of light or radiation to narrow them or limit their speed) at various points downstream, where they immediately fragment into single protons, neutrons and other particles. In this form, the gold exists for just a tiny fraction of a second. 'Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE ZDCs, the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyse the signature of gold production at the LHC experimentally,' said Uliana Dmitrieva of the ALICE collaboration in a statement. The biggest discovery that came from LHC was the Higgs Boson in 2012. The discovery provided evidence of how particles gain mass, proving the existence of the Higgs Field, which is key to the Standard Model of particle physics. However, in recent years, scientists have questioned the lack of any big discovery from the LHC. Also Read: 47 yrs ago, this Indian-origin physicist asked Feynman a question. He hasn't looked back since
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Physicists mimicking Big Bang accidentally turn lead into gold
Scientists made an unexpected breakthrough and accidentally struck gold while researching the Big Bang The Big Bang is a source of wonderment and interest for the human race. The scientific theory describes the universe's expansion from an extremely dense and hot state into the universe we know - or think we know - now. Most physicists believe the universe was born in the Big Bang 14 billion years ago and the scientific community holds a vast interest in the theory. However, one study went slightly awry recently when physicists unintentionally struck gold when trying to recreate the very event that is believed to have created the universe we call home today. While attempting to recreate the conditions just after the Big Bang, physicists at Europe's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) produced gold by accident. The surprising twist happened when lead atoms were smashed together at high speeds for the ALICE experiment in Switzerland, and small amounts of gold were unintentionally produced. The amount of gold produced was miniscule - amounting to just 29 trillionths of a gram. However, the occurrence has been hailed as an "impressive" feat. ALICE, standing for A Large Ion Collider Experiment, aims to explore the early moments of the Universe following the Big Bang by colliding heavy atomic nuclei at temperatures exceeding the core of the sun. Through these collisions, researchers temporarily generate quark-gluon plasma, a state of matter from the nascent universe when protons and neutrons' constituents, quarks and gluons, weren't bonded. This plasma examination helps scientists understand the origins of matter. The team managed to extract three protons from lead atoms - but inadvertently created gold atoms. "It's impressive that our detectors can handle both major collisions that create thousands of particles and these smaller events that make just a few particles at a time," remarked Marco Van Leeuwen, leader of the ALICE project. In the groundbreaking experiment, scientists observed the transformation of lead atoms into different elements by narrowly missing each other instead of colliding head-on. The powerful electromagnetic fields generated in these near-misses can lead to the atoms changing their composition, according to the researchers. "The very high speed at which lead nuclei travel in the LHC... causes the electromagnetic field lines to be squashed into a thin pancake and transverse to the direction of motion," CERN officials explained. "This produces a short-lived pulse of photons." This photon pulse can initiate a complex phenomenon known as electromagnetic dissociation. This ultimately leads to the creation of gold. Incredibly, the research marks the first time that gold production has been systematically detected and analysed in an LHC experiment. It is believed medieval alchemists dreamed of transmuting lead into gold. The Large Hadron Collider is the world's most powerful particle accelerator. It sprung back to life in 2022 after a three-year shutdown and went on to embark on another run of cutting-edge physics experiments. The findings were published in the Physical Review Journals. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists turn lead into gold for 1st time, but only for a split second
In a breakthrough that would make medieval alchemists envious, scientists at Europe's Large Hadron Collider have successfully transformed lead into gold, producing 89,000 atoms per second. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a giant particle accelerator that smashes atoms together at super-high speeds. Scientists there have found a way to knock three tiny particles called protons out of lead atoms, turning them into gold atoms. The team behind this discovery, called the ALICE collaboration, used a unique way to create gold. Instead of crashing lead atoms head-on, they looked at what happens when the atoms just barely miss each other. Researchers explained that when this happens, powerful electromagnetic fields around the atoms can cause them to change into different elements. MORE: Scientists solve mystery of 'zombie' volcano displaying signs of eruption for decades "It's impressive that our detectors can handle both major collisions that create thousands of particles and these smaller events that make just a few particles at a time," Marco Van Leeuwen, who leads the ALICE project, said in a press release. During one period of experiments from 2015 to 2018, the scientists created about 86 billion gold atoms. That sounds like a lot, but when you add up all that gold, scientists said it only weighs about 29 picograms, which is less than a trillionth of a gram. You'd need trillions of times more to make even a tiny piece of jewelry. The machine can create about 89,000 gold atoms every second, but each atom only exists for a tiny fraction of a second before breaking apart. Recent upgrades to the machine have almost doubled the amount of gold it can make, but it's still far from practical use. MORE: FAA launches emergency task force to ensure safety flying in and out of Newark According to Uliana Dmitrieva, a scientist for the ALICE collaboration, this is the first time scientists have been able to detect and study gold production at the LHC in this way. "Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE ZDCs, the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyse the signature of gold production at the LHC experimentally," Dmitrieva said in the release. John Jowett, another scientist on the team, said that these experiments help them understand how particles behave, which is important for improving the LHC and building future particle 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," Jowett said in the release. Scientists turn lead into gold for 1st time, but only for a split second originally appeared on
13-05-2025
- Science
Scientists turn lead into gold for 1st time, but only for a split second
In a breakthrough that would make medieval alchemists envious, scientists at Europe's Large Hadron Collider have successfully transformed lead into gold, producing 89,000 atoms per second. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a giant particle accelerator that smashes atoms together at super-high speeds. Scientists there have found a way to knock three tiny particles called protons out of lead atoms, turning them into gold atoms. The team behind this discovery, called the ALICE collaboration, used a unique way to create gold. Instead of crashing lead atoms head-on, they looked at what happens when the atoms just barely miss each other. Researchers explained that when this happens, powerful electromagnetic fields around the atoms can cause them to change into different elements. "It's impressive that our detectors can handle both major collisions that create thousands of particles and these smaller events that make just a few particles at a time," Marco Van Leeuwen, who leads the ALICE project, said in a press release. How much gold did they make? During one period of experiments from 2015 to 2018, the scientists created about 86 billion gold atoms. That sounds like a lot, but when you add up all that gold, scientists said it only weighs about 29 picograms, which is less than a trillionth of a gram and about an ounce. You'd need trillions of times more to make even a tiny piece of jewelry. The machine can create about 89,000 gold atoms every second, but each atom only exists for a tiny fraction of a second before breaking apart. Recent upgrades to the machine have almost doubled the amount of gold it can make, but it's still far from practical use. According to Uliana Dmitrieva, a scientist for the ALICE collaboration, this is the first time scientists have been able to detect and study gold production at the LHC in this way. "Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE ZDCs, the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyse the signature of gold production at the LHC experimentally," Dmitrieva said in the release. The research isn't just about making gold John Jowett, another scientist on the team, said that these experiments help them understand how particles behave, which is important for improving the LHC and building future particle 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," Jowett said in the release.
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.
