OBS Chapter 2378
Chapter 2378
Chapter 2378
The reason they are arguing about a decision is, on the one hand, for the sake of national interests.
After all, the minerals on that island of the giant hand are indeed of global importance. It's worth noting that they contain many rare elements that can only be extracted in laboratories.
The distribution of elements on Earth is extremely uneven.
First, we need to clarify that the elements discussed here are those naturally occurring in the Earth's crust, not those deep within the mantle or core, as these areas are virtually inaccessible to humans. Even the deepest known borehole—the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia—is only about 12,000 meters deep, far from reaching the bottom of the crust. The most common element in the Earth's crust is oxygen, making up 46.5% of its total mass. This might remind one of oxygen in the air, but in fact, oxygen in the crust exists almost entirely in the form of oxides in various minerals. For example, silicon dioxide, a major component of sand and quartz, is widely found in various rocks within the crust. Next, the most common elements include silicon, aluminum, iron, and calcium, which together make up over 99% of the crust. In stark contrast to these abundant elements are some extremely rare elements, their abundance so low as to be almost undetectable. For instance, helium, while the second most abundant element in the universe (after hydrogen), is extremely scarce in the Earth's crust. This difference is primarily due to helium's tendency to escape into space, making naturally occurring helium virtually impossible to find on Earth. This phenomenon also occurs with hydrogen. In the early days, hydrogen accounted for about 40% of Earth's atmosphere, but due to its light weight, it gradually escaped into outer space and is now relatively scarce in the Earth's crust.
With the development of science and technology, humankind has gradually acquired knowledge about many rare elements, but some of these elements still remain shrouded in mystery.
For example, element 85 (astatine, At) is one of the rarest elements on Earth. Astatine has an extremely low natural abundance; one astatine atom can be found in approximately one in 25 trillion atoms in the Earth's crust.
This rarity makes the study of astatine extremely challenging for scientists, yet, humans have managed to synthesize small quantities of this element in the laboratory. The name astatine comes from the Greek word "astatos," meaning "unstable," because all its isotopes are radioactive and have extremely short lifespans. For example, the most stable astatine isotope has a half-life of only 8 hours. Due to its extreme instability, we know very little about the properties of this element, and even its appearance is uncertain. Nevertheless, scientists speculate that astatine may exhibit properties similar to other halogens. Other elements in the halogen family, such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine, exhibit increasingly darker colors with increasing atomic weight. Therefore, some have speculated that astatine might have a pure black metallic luster, but all of this remains theoretical speculation.
Although these rare elements are extremely scarce, they play an irreplaceable role in certain fields.
For example, astatine-211, as a radioactive isotope, has shown great potential in the medical field.
Radioactive isotopes can be used as radioactive tracers in cancer treatment, precisely targeting cancer cells and reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Although current research is still in the experimental stage, this discovery undoubtedly opens up new directions for radiotherapy. In addition, another rare element—polonium (element 84)—has also attracted much attention due to its radioactivity.
Certain isotopes of polonium are used as energy sources for thermoelectric generators, particularly in space probes. These devices utilize the radioactive decay of polonium to generate heat, which is then converted into electricity, providing a continuous and stable power source for space probes. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, humanity's understanding and utilization of these rare elements will deepen further. Although their abundance in the Earth's crust is extremely low, their unique properties make them indispensable resources in specific applications. In the future, with improvements in synthesis techniques and enhanced management of radioactive materials, we may discover more practical applications for these rare elements, thereby driving technological development.
Although rare elements on Earth are scarce in number, they have shown limitless potential in scientific research and practical applications.
From nuclear medicine to space exploration, the unique properties and potential of these elements are gradually being discovered by humankind.
But progress has been slow.
why?
Because the mining is so difficult, it's practically impossible to mine it at all; we can only produce a tiny amount in the laboratory!
The most typical example is collecting elements from the periodic table... This is an unattainable dream!
Some might think, "What's so difficult about collecting elements? Aren't they all naturally occurring?" Well, the periodic table currently contains 118 elements. How much would it cost to collect one gram of each? Most people's impression of the periodic table is probably limited to the mnemonic "hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, argon, potassium, calcium," and they might not even remember how many elements are actually in the periodic table. This is normal, because the periodic table isn't static. When scientists discover new elements in nature, they are added to it. So, while we're not paying attention, the periodic table is quietly expanding its ranks. The earliest modern periodic table was created by Mendeleev in 1869, when only 63 elements were known. Today, the number of elements in the periodic table has more than doubled, and the discovery of some elements has made a significant contribution to human technological progress. Since the periodic table is so meaningful, collecting it to create a unique exhibit seems like a good idea. But how easy is it to collect the entire set?
How much would it cost to collect 1 gram of each?
The fact that Bill Gates couldn't fill the wall shows how difficult it is to collect all the elements. Some elements are abundant in nature, while others are not only scarce but also have half-life. This means that even if you painstakingly collect them, you might only see a fleeting "bloom" before they disappear.
First, let's talk about the relatively inexpensive elements in the first few periods of the periodic table. Elements like hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, and boron are very abundant in the Earth's crust. Except for beryllium, which is slightly more expensive at about 5.995 yuan per gram, the others are all less than 1 yuan per gram. The prices of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and neon are similar, generally costing less than 1 yuan each. Elements like oxygen and carbon cost less than a cent each, which is negligible. Roughly speaking, collecting all the elements in the first three periods would only cost less than 9 yuan. This seems easy, the cost acceptable, and even, at this rate, the cost of collecting them all is less than that of a figurine, making it quite cost-effective. However, it's not that simple. Let's look at elements priced between a thousand and a million yuan. Neptunium (e.g., element 93), named after Neptune, appears as an ordinary silvery-white metal, but it is radioactive. Furthermore, this element is almost non-existent in nature and can only be produced artificially. It also has a very short half-life, approximately 2.35 days, so to preserve its authentic form, the exhibit might need to be changed every two days. Neptunium costs approximately 3960 yuan per gram, so collecting 1 gram is still possible.
The unit prices of elements 91 (protactinium) and 94 (plutonium), which are located before and after it, are also over a thousand yuan. Plutonium, as an important raw material for manufacturing nuclear weapons, costs as much as 38940 yuan per gram.
Of course, a few thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan is nothing to the super-rich; at least for someone like Bill Gates, it's an easy sum to collect them all. However, the following elements are far beyond the reach of most people. For example, californium, atomic number 98, is the sixth transuranic element to be artificially synthesized, and it appears silvery-white. Due to the extremely complex methods required for its artificial synthesis, each gram costs at least 2 billion yuan. In the last century, the U.S. Atomic Energy Society sold isotopes of this element to academic institutions, offering high prices and producing very limited quantities. Then there's polonium, element number 84, one of the rarest known elements, also a silvery-white metal. This element was discovered by Marie Curie and her husband; it's not only expensive but also highly toxic. More importantly, polonium is only one part per hundred trillion in the Earth's crust, so obtaining it usually relies on artificial synthesis. It's reported that each gram costs around 300 billion yuan, which is outrageously expensive. This shows that the elements in the periodic table range in price from less than a penny to hundreds of billions. To collect them all would cost at least 500 billion yuan, and many elements are simply unavailable even with money. Realistically, even if someone were incredibly wealthy and could afford to collect all the elements, they couldn't properly display them for long-term exhibition. Many elements have extremely short half-lives; they might decay shortly after being created in the lab and brought home, no longer representing the element on the periodic table. Such a situation would be unbearable for someone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Furthermore, some radioactive elements are harmful to humans.
But on the island blessed by the gods, these elements are incredibly abundant!
After all, many rare elements are scarce in the Earth's crust, but quite abundant in the mantle and even the core... Well, "quite abundant" is relative; in fact, overall, they are still scarce.
The problem is, these things, after being refined by the Celestials, have become preservable ores!
Although I don't understand the principle, as long as I dig the ore back and refine it, it will be usable!
Don't assume that scarcity increases value; once there's an abundance of something, its value decreases.
In fact, the potential of many rare elements has never been explored. Why?
Because there aren't many!
Even high-end laboratories are extremely frugal when conducting experiments, so naturally, the amount of value that can be developed is limited!
But if there are more of them, there will be more to study. Once their value is developed, price will not be a problem at all!
So this is a super gold mine... no, this thing is much more valuable than a gold mine!
Naturally, all parties involved would not let this opportunity pass.
The same applies within the United States.
The situation in the United States is different now than before. In the past, all parties could reap the benefits from the whole world, and no matter what, they could still make a living. But now it's different.
There's no hope of conquering the whole world!
Therefore, we must fight for it!
According to the established tradition, whoever's policy is implemented has the right to speak and can participate in the distribution of benefits!
So in reality, these people's enemies are not only other countries that no longer respect the United States, but also everyone here!
They belong to different political groups and represent different interest groups, so it is impossible for them to get along harmoniously.
So after arguing for several days, they still haven't come up with a solution that meets the interests of the majority.
Until Benjamin came up with that brilliant idea.
Everyone was silent for a while.
Many people thought the idea was great!
"Excellent! Those superheroes enjoy the highest praise, and now they should contribute accordingly! Aren't they very powerful? Then go and fight for the interests of America!"
Some people think this is reasonable.
It's as if those superheroes are getting paid by the government.
So someone immediately raised an objection.
"Heh, easier said than done. If those cross-dressers were really so easy to talk to, they would be government employees by now, not a bunch of vigilantes operating outside the law! Not to mention, the reason they became vigilantes is because they hate us! They hate the government's inaction!"
No one in the government truly likes superheroes.
Because they have escaped the control of power.
They acted according to their own preferences!
Ah!
They disregard the law, which is the very foundation upon which the government governs the country!
"Aren't they Americans? The situation in America is like this, shouldn't they fight for it?" This person is slightly more reliable and knows how to use the greater good.
Otherwise, based solely on so-called government orders, the Truth Society's superheroes would probably be very few and far between.
After all, a key characteristic of superheroes is their opposition to authority!
However, there are also those who are truly clear-headed.
"Hmph, you have a good idea, but how do you plan to 'convince' them, especially Tony and Kay!"
Actually, the government isn't really that afraid of other superheroes.
The most typical example is Captain America, who is a symbol of America.
Getting him to do something is incredibly easy; all it takes is a sense of righteousness.
But Tony and Kay... honestly, these are the real tough nuts to crack.
Tony, needless to say, is an absolute billionaire!
Moreover, when it comes to the impact of America's decline on the wealthy, Tony's impact is the smallest!
Because its industry has long since moved beyond the traditional scope.
He even quit the military industry.
Whether the United States is weak or strong is none of his business!
In fact, the United States made demands of him.
Capital knows no borders.
Do you really think Tony is a patriot?
Haha, in a capitalist society, it would be strange if capitalists were patriotic!