The Real Philosopher's Stone: Turning Lead into Gold

The video explores the concept of the philosopher's stone, a legendary alchemical substance believed to turn metals into gold and grant immortality. It delves into historical and modern attempts at transmutation, highlighting the work of scientists like Rutherford, Soddy, Nagaoka, and Miethe. While ancient alchemists failed, modern science has achieved transmutation through nuclear reactions, albeit with challenges like radioactivity and high costs. The video concludes with insights from these experiments, emphasizing their contribution to our understanding of physics.

What was the primary goal of ancient alchemists in their pursuit of the philosopher's stone?

• To invent a new language

• To create a powerful weapon

• To turn common metals into gold

• To discover new planets

What did Rutherford and Soddy discover about thorium in their lab?

• It could be used as a fuel source

• It was capable of transmutation

• It could cure diseases

• It was a new element

What did Hantaro Nagaoka attempt to do with mercury?

• Turn it into silver

• Create a new type of battery

• Turn it into gold

• Use it as a medicine

What was a major issue with the gold created from mercury in the 1940s?

• It was too expensive to produce

• It was too heavy to use

• It was radioactive and unstable

• It was not shiny enough

Why is turning lead into gold more challenging than turning mercury into gold?

• Lead is a liquid at room temperature

• Lead is less abundant

• Lead has a more stable nucleus

• Lead is more expensive

What did researchers at CERN discover about lighter isotopes of gold?

• They are all stable

• They are all spherical

• They have different shapes

• They are all radioactive

What is one reason scientists continue to experiment with transmutation despite its high cost?

• To find a new energy source

• To create new currencies

• To learn more about physics

• To produce cheap jewelry