Summary
- • Antimatter costs approximately $62.5 trillion per gram
- • The total amount of antimatter ever produced is less than 20 nanograms
- • It would take 100 billion years to produce 1 gram of positrons
- • The cost to produce 1 gram of antihydrogen is estimated at $62.5 quadrillion
- • CERN's antiproton decelerator produces about 10 million antiprotons per minute
- • Endohedral fullerenes cost approximately $167 million per gram
- • A single gram of endohedral fullerenes can store 1000 times more information than a DVD
- • Carbon nanotubes cost around $1,500 per gram
- • Graphene costs approximately $1,000 per gram
- • A single layer of graphene is 97.7% transparent
- • Californium-252 costs about $27 million per gram
- • The half-life of Californium-252 is 2.645 years
- • Plutonium-238 costs approximately $4,000 per gram
- • Polonium-210 costs about $1,000 per gram
- • The global production of Plutonium-238 is less than 2 kg per year
Move over gold and diamonds, theres a new player in town when it comes to luxury – the world of the Most Expensive Materials. How does $62.5 trillion per gram of antimatter sound to you? Thats just the tip of the iceberg in this extravagant realm where the price tags will make your head spin faster than a graphene atom. From storing information more efficiently than a DVD to gene therapies that cost more than a mansion, we delve into the mind-boggling world of materials that are worth their weight in gold (and then some).
Antimatter
- Antimatter costs approximately $62.5 trillion per gram
- The total amount of antimatter ever produced is less than 20 nanograms
- It would take 100 billion years to produce 1 gram of positrons
- The cost to produce 1 gram of antihydrogen is estimated at $62.5 quadrillion
- CERN's antiproton decelerator produces about 10 million antiprotons per minute
- Antimatter could theoretically produce 10 billion times more energy per gram than nuclear fusion
- The first antimatter atom (antihydrogen) was created in 1995 at CERN
- Storing 1 gram of antimatter would require a magnetic field of about 16 Tesla
- The antimatter trap at CERN can store antihydrogen atoms for up to 1000 seconds
- The total energy content of 1 gram of antimatter is equivalent to 43 kilotons of TNT
Interpretation
In the world of material costs, antimatter reigns supreme as the undisputed heavyweight champion, with a price tag that would make even the most extravagant billionaire blush. With a cost of $62.5 trillion per gram, antimatter is indeed more precious than gold. The sheer rarity of this elusive substance further adds to its allure, with less than 20 nanograms ever produced in the history of mankind. It's a race against time and resources to harness the immense potential of antimatter, as the endeavor to produce a single gram of positrons would span an unfathomable 100 billion years. Despite the astronomical costs and challenges, the promise of unlocking energy sources that could dwarf even nuclear fusion remains tantalizingly within reach. And so, the saga of antimatter continues—a high-stakes game where science, technology, and sheer audacity converge in a battle for the ultimate prize.
Nanomaterials
- Endohedral fullerenes cost approximately $167 million per gram
- A single gram of endohedral fullerenes can store 1000 times more information than a DVD
- Carbon nanotubes cost around $1,500 per gram
- Graphene costs approximately $1,000 per gram
- A single layer of graphene is 97.7% transparent
- A single gram of graphene can theoretically cover an area of 2,630 square meters
- Carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger than steel but six times lighter
- The thermal conductivity of graphene is about 5000 W/mK, higher than any known material
- A sheet of graphene one atom thick is strong enough to support an elephant standing on a pencil
- Endohedral fullerenes can encapsulate individual atoms or small molecules within their carbon cage
Interpretation
In the world of materials, prices can skyrocket faster than Elon Musk's rocket launches. From endohedral fullerenes that cost more per gram than some people's houses to graphene that can cover enough ground to make a real estate mogul jealous – these substances are not just valuable, they're potential game-changers. Imagine storing a library's worth of information on a speck of endohedral fullerenes or building a skyscraper out of carbon nanotubes lighter than a feather but stronger than Superman's biceps. It seems that in the battle of materials, it's not just about worth but also about the incredible feats they can achieve. So, next time you hold a piece of graphene, remember you're holding the stuff dreams (and maybe elephants) are made of.
Pharmaceuticals
- Soliris, a medication for rare blood disorders, costs about $678,392 per year
- Zolgensma, a gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, costs $2.1 million per treatment
- Luxturna, a gene therapy for inherited retinal disease, costs $850,000 per treatment
- Glybera, a gene therapy for lipoprotein lipase deficiency, cost $1 million per treatment before being withdrawn
- Myalept, a medication for leptin deficiency, costs about $889,904 per year
- The development cost of Soliris was estimated at $1.2 billion
- Zolgensma was developed over a period of 8 years
- Luxturna took over 20 years to develop
- Glybera was approved for use in only 31 patients in Europe before being withdrawn
- Myalept is used to treat an ultra-rare disease that affects only a few hundred people worldwide
Interpretation
In the world of ultra-rare diseases and cutting-edge treatments, the price tags attached to medications and therapies can sometimes elicit both disbelief and contemplation. The staggering costs of these materials, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, reflect not just the value of a single treatment, but also the immense investment, time, and effort that went into their development. As we raise our eyebrows at the numbers, let's not forget the intricate web of research, innovation, and sheer determination that underpins these expensive materials, offering a glimpse into the high-stakes world of healthcare where every life, no matter how rare, is considered priceless.
Radioactive Elements
- Californium-252 costs about $27 million per gram
- The half-life of Californium-252 is 2.645 years
- Plutonium-238 costs approximately $4,000 per gram
- Polonium-210 costs about $1,000 per gram
- The global production of Plutonium-238 is less than 2 kg per year
- Californium-252 emits 170 million neutrons per minute per microgram
- The entire world's supply of Californium-252 is less than 30 grams
- Plutonium-238 has a power density of 0.54 watts per gram
- A lethal dose of Polonium-210 is less than 1 microgram
- The half-life of Plutonium-238 is 87.7 years
Interpretation
In the world of high-stakes materials, Californium-252 reigns supreme, boasting a price tag that could make even Scrooge McDuck gasp. With its rapid neutron emission and limited global supply, this elusive element truly lives up to the saying "quality over quantity." Meanwhile, Plutonium-238 may be less flashy but packs a punch with its power density and longevity. And let's not forget Polonium-210, the silent killer in this glamorous lineup, proving that sometimes the most lethal things come in the smallest packages. In the end, whether you're shedding light on nuclear reactions or plotting a diabolical scheme, these materials redefine the meaning of worth and danger in the world of chemistry.
Rare Elements
- Tritium costs approximately $30,000 per gram
- The global production of tritium is estimated at 400 grams per year
- Rhodium costs about $14,500 per ounce
- Platinum costs approximately $1,000 per ounce
- The annual global production of rhodium is about 30 tons
- The global tritium inventory is estimated to be less than 20 kg
- Rhodium is 10 to 25 times rarer than gold in the Earth's crust
- Platinum is about 30 times rarer than gold in the Earth's crust
- The melting point of rhodium is 1,964°C (3,567°F)
- Tritium's half-life is 12.32 years
Interpretation
In a world where rarity often equates to value, the price tags on tritium, rhodium, and platinum paint a picture of the extravagant cost of scarcity. With tritium fetching a whopping $30,000 per gram, it seems that its fleeting existence, reflected in a half-life of 12.32 years, only adds to its allure. Rhodium and platinum, coveted for their scarcity in the Earth's crust, stand as testaments to the allure of the extraordinary. As we marvel at the exorbitant prices of these materials, we are reminded that sometimes the most precious things in life are truly worth their weight in gold, or in this case, even more.
Rare Gemstones
- Painite costs approximately $300,000 per carat
- Only about 1,000 painite crystals are known to exist
- Red diamonds can cost up to $1 million per carat
- Blue diamonds can cost up to $3.93 million per carat
- Jadeite can cost up to $3 million per carat
- The largest known painite crystal weighs 213.52 carats
- Only about 20 red diamonds over 0.5 carats are known to exist
- The largest known blue diamond, the Hope Diamond, weighs 45.52 carats
- The Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace sold for $27.44 million in 2014
- The rarest color for a natural diamond is red, with only about 30 known to exist
Interpretation
In a world where beauty comes with a hefty price tag, these jaw-dropping numbers remind us of the astonishing value we place on the rarest of Earth's treasures. With red diamonds fetching up to $1 million per carat and blue diamonds reaching an eye-watering $3.93 million per carat, it's clear that scarcity drives desire. To put it into perspective, the most expensive material, painite, at $300,000 per carat, is a veritable bargain compared to its diamond counterparts. So whether you're dreaming of adorning yourself with a piece of the world's most precious stones or simply marveling at the exorbitant prices they command, these statistics serve as a glittering reminder that in the realm of luxury, rarity reigns supreme.