The Priciest Substance on Earth: A Tiny Powder Worth Millions, Endohedral Fullerenes

Endohedral Fullerenes

When contemplating the most exorbitant substances on Earth, gold or luxury delicacies might come to mind, yet they pale in comparison to an exceptionally rare powder fetching an astounding $140 million per gram. This surpasses even the lofty prices of industrial materials like platinum and illicit substances such as cocaine or LSD.

The Revolutionary Potential of Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes

Oxford scientists have unveiled this marvel, known as ‘Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes’, which holds the promise of revolutionizing technology with its potential to miniaturize atomic clocks. Unlike current models the size of rooms, these clocks could become as compact as modern smartphones, enhancing navigation systems and eliminating GPS blind spots. The substance’s structure, featuring a nitrogen atom encased within a carbon ‘cage’, hints at its namesake, paying homage to architect Richard Buckminster Fuller’s geometric designs. With this breakthrough, the future may witness atomic clocks integrated even into commonplace devices like smartphones, marking a significant leap forward in precision technology.