GLiTtErInG goLd
But did you know that , beyond their looks , these A-grade alloys are also very useful indeed ? Here are six unexpected places where you can find silver and gold . Let ’ s take a look .
DoeS thAt cOmpuTe�
Did you know you probably interact with gold every day ? You might not be able to see it , but there is gold hidden beneath the surface of most of our electronics , including phones and computers . That ’ s because gold is very conductive and can conduct tiny amounts of electricity at a time . We can use it to make very small complex circuits . Other metals like copper and silver can conduct electricity too , but they tend to react with air over time , which ruins the circuit connections . Gold is the stand-out star of the electrical world , keeping our devices ticking for years to come .
ImpRessIve ImplAnTs
Gold is very inert , which means it stays the same even under harsh conditions . It doesn ’ t rust , corrode , or react with anything it touches . One place where this is especially handy ? The human body ! Modern doctors implant devices into the body when it needs extra help , such as prosthetic joints or pacemakers . These devices need to survive inside the patient ’ s body for years at a time without breaking or corroding away . They also need to be biocompatible , which means that the body ’ s immune system won ’ t try to attack it and make the patient sicker . Luckily for us , gold is one of the most biocompatible metals we know of , so we coat implant devices with it to protect the implant and the patient . Scientific ingenuity at its best !
SplEndoUr iN spAcE
Although silver wins the prize for reflecting the most visible light , gold is the most reflective material for infrared light , the invisible type of light responsible for warming us up . For that reason , space travel is chock-full of golden stuff . Equipment in space can overheat easily , since there ’ s no sky to shield it from the Sun ’ s powerful rays . Everything from satellites to astronaut helmets is coated with a snazzy golden layer to reflect away heat . This is also why some satellites , such as the JW Space Telescope , use golden mirrors : to best be able to observe infrared emissions from distant stars !
Want to go on a gold hunt in your very own home ? Check out this Awesome Activity for more !
AWESOME
ACTIVITIES ALERT
SCAN ME
Words : Bee Rich . Illustration : Dorothy Luo
17