Could Lab-Made Gold Bring Down Prices? New Technology Sparks Interest

At a time when gold prices remain a major concern for buyers, a new scientific claim has attracted attention. US-based startup Marathon Fusion, headquartered in San Francisco, says it has developed a process to produce stable gold from mercury using neutrons generated during nuclear fusion. The proposed method involves changing the atomic nucleus of mercury-198 so that it can eventually transform into stable gold-197. Since mercury has 80 protons and gold has 79, this process involves changing the atomic structure of the element. If the technology can be developed for large-scale commercial use, it could potentially increase gold supply and put downward pressure on prices. The development has drawn comparisons with lab-grown diamonds, which have changed the diamond market by offering an alternative to naturally mined stones.

However, producing gold in a laboratory is not the same as manufacturing it economically on a commercial scale. Scientists at CERN have previously observed the formation of tiny quantities of gold nuclei during high-energy experiments involving lead nuclei in the Large Hadron Collider. Those quantities were extremely small, and the resulting nuclei existed only briefly. Marathon Fusion's latest claim has not yet received independent scientific validation, so it is too early to conclude that large-scale gold production is now possible. Even if the process proves successful, making it commercially viable could take considerable time and investment. Therefore, any prediction that gold prices will collapse would be premature.

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Gold prices fluctuate frequently depending on market conditions, international rates, currency movements and other factors. The information in this article is for general awareness only and should not be treated as investment advice.