I know something subjectively more valuable than gold that you may be able to make from a Tokamak - Energy! Considering the crisis unfolding, it can't come soon enough. Why then are we talking about wasting neutrons for making a metal that's sufficiently available, if you disregard its uses for vanity? And what about its utility when you've made enough gold that it's commercially worthless?
The main issue here is that Tokamaks are yet to reach engineering break even - they're yet to produce more energy than they consume. Even the multinational ITER project is built without any components to deliver any energy to the power grid. It's disconcerting that this problem is not being discussed enough when fusion reactors are touted as a solution for the climate crisis.
Meanwhile, we are talking about putting our strained energy resources into making gold? Haven't we learned anything from degrading the biosphere for extremely energy-inefficient endeavors like crypto mining and AI training? Humanity needs to set its priorities straight.
richardatlarge · 8h ago
And the gold would be radioactive for something like 18 years
zeristor · 20h ago
Click bait title, it is written as though it has ready been done, however this is the paper discusses the opportunity to make gold from mercury, or palladium.
The main issue here is that Tokamaks are yet to reach engineering break even - they're yet to produce more energy than they consume. Even the multinational ITER project is built without any components to deliver any energy to the power grid. It's disconcerting that this problem is not being discussed enough when fusion reactors are touted as a solution for the climate crisis.
Meanwhile, we are talking about putting our strained energy resources into making gold? Haven't we learned anything from degrading the biosphere for extremely energy-inefficient endeavors like crypto mining and AI training? Humanity needs to set its priorities straight.