Marathon Fusion claims to convert mercury into gold using nuclear transmutation technology.

San Francisco start-up Marathon Fusion claims to have developed technology that can transform mercury into gold using nuclear fusion. Experts have reacted positively, but the idea remains unproven and the paper has not undergone peer review. If successful, a fusion plant could produce up to 5,000kg of gold annually, worth $600 million at current prices. However, some of the gold may be radioactive, requiring up to 18 years in storage before being safe for use.

San Francisco-based Marathon Fusion has made a significant claim in the realm of nuclear fusion technology, asserting that they have developed a method to transform mercury into gold. The start-up, founded in 2023 by Kyle Schiller and Adam Rutkowski, has published an academic paper detailing their approach, which proposes using neutrons released in fusion reactions to achieve nuclear transmutation.

The paper, which has received a positive reception from some experts in the field, suggests that the process could produce up to 5,000kg of gold annually per gigawatt of electricity generated. This amount, at current prices, would be worth approximately $600 million. The method involves introducing mercury-198 into the breeding blanket of a fusion reactor and using high-energy neutrons to convert it into mercury-197, which then decays into gold-197 over about 64 hours.

Dr. Ahmed Diallo, a plasma physicist at the US Department of Energy’s national laboratory at Princeton, commented positively on the paper, stating that it looks promising and has intrigued many in the field [1]. However, the process is not without its challenges. The gold produced may contain unstable isotopes, making it partially radioactive. Rutkowski estimates that the gold would need to be stored for 14 to 18 years before it is completely safe for use.

Marathon Fusion aims to integrate this process into existing fusion power plants, potentially doubling the revenue of the plant by generating gold alongside electricity. The company has raised $5.9 million in investment and $4 million in US government grants to date, with Malcolm Handley of Strong Atomics, one of Marathon's investors, noting that the possibility of gold revenues could unlock more funds for fusion companies to accelerate their work [1].

The idea of transforming metals through nuclear fusion is not new; physicists at Europe’s Cern observed lead atoms transforming into gold during high-speed near-collisions earlier this year. However, the scale and efficiency of Marathon’s proposal are significant, as it could potentially revolutionize the way precious metals are produced and contribute to the future of sustainable energy.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fusion-energy-start-claims-cracked-040013708.html