TED-Ed: Where does gold come from? - David Lunney

The video explores the historical quest of alchemists to turn lead into gold, a dream now achievable through modern technology. Gold's origin is traced back to supernovae, where heavy elements are formed. The process of nuclear fusion in stars and the subsequent formation of elements like gold during supernovae is explained. Gold's journey to Earth and its rarity are discussed, highlighting the challenges of mining. The video also covers the potential of producing gold using particle accelerators, though it's not cost-effective. Future sources of gold, such as oceans and space, are considered, with a nod to the possibility of future supernovae delivering more gold.

What did alchemists historically attempt to do with lead?

• Transform it into copper

• Transform it into iron

• Transform it into gold

• Transform it into silver

Where does gold originally come from according to the video?

• The Earth's core

• Volcanic eruptions

• Extraterrestrial supernovae

• Deep ocean vents

What process in stars leads to the formation of heavier elements like gold?

• Nuclear fission

• Magnetic fields

• Chemical reactions

• Nuclear fusion

How is gold currently extracted from the Earth?

• Through chemical synthesis

• By harvesting from plants

• By mining

• By collecting from ocean water

What is a potential future source of gold mentioned in the video?

• Asteroid mining

• Deep-sea mining

• Collecting from rainwater

• Harvesting from the atmosphere