Hacker News Reader

> Take the nucleus of an atom. It is made up of protons and neutrons. If we add or take away a neutron, it changes absolutely everything. It is no longer the same atom, and its properties will completely change.

Are they talking about transmutation with lasers? Would it work for Lead -> Gold too?

View on HN

Yes, but not economically. For an encore, the oceans contain plenty of gold too, a coupe of parts-per-trillion. It's yours for the taking.

(shhh don't tell him about biological fouling) Did I say that out loud?

I suspect it's vastly easier to add or remove a single neutron rather than to remove several protons like you'd have to do to transmute between elements.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com