Can one really turn stone into gold?

Over 100 years ago, people believed that atoms were absolutely unchanging. The original meaning of "atom" in Greek was "indivisible." In other words, a gold atom would always be a gold atom, and a silver atom would always be a silver atom.

Is this really the case? Measurements show that one gram of radium releases approximately 586 joules of heat per hour. This heat is equivalent to raising the temperature of 140 grams of water by about 1°C. However, strangely, hour after hour, day after day, year after year, radium continues to release approximately 586 joules of heat per hour, almost continuously and automatically; this continues for about 1560 years before the heat released by radium decreases to half its original amount, or about 293 joules per hour. One gram of radium is only a tiny amount, but if it were to release all its heat, it would amount to a staggering 113 billion joules!

Where does this enormous energy come from? In 1908, British atomic physicist Rutherford, while conducting spectral analysis, discovered that two new elements—radon and helium—had suddenly appeared in a box that had previously contained a small amount of radium salt (radium chloride). Where did these new elements come from?

Through continuous exploration, people have discovered that the secret lies entirely within the atom—atoms can split! Atomic energy is the enormous energy released when atoms split.

It turns out that among the 72 billion radium atoms, on average, one atom splits and explodes every second, scattering its "fragments" at a speed of 20,000 kilometers per second. After splitting, the radium atom becomes two smaller atoms—radon and helium. The radon atom continues to fission until it reaches the non-radioactive element—lead.

Medieval European alchemists racked their brains trying to "turn lead into gold," but none succeeded. However, the discovery of atomic fission showed that radium could be transformed into radon and helium, and radon into lead. So, could other substances be transformed into gold?

Yes! Some people have already used radioactive mercury to create genuine gold, although the cost is very high.