Marathon Fusion’s Wild Plan to Redefine Energy and Alchemy Involves Turning Mercury Into Gold

Marathon Fusion, a San Francisco startup, has unveiled a plan to produce gold as a byproduct of their fusion reactor. Their tokamak device uses mercury-198 to absorb neutrons from the fusion reaction, creating gold-197. The company estimates a gigawatt-scale reactor could generate 5,000 kilograms of gold annually, worth about $600 million. While challenges remain, such as dealing with radioactive gold isotopes, Marathon's approach could redefine energy production and wealth creation.