What makes nitrogen atom-based endohedral fullerene so valuable?
Where does such an astronomical value come from? It primarily stems from its unique properties and immense technological potential. This substance can be used for various applications, including creating miniature atomic clocks.
The University of Oxford has recognized a substance as the most expensive material on Earth, though most people have probably never heard of it. It is called Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerene, and its price is an astronomical £106 million, which translates to over $180 million Canadian dollars—far beyond what the average person would earn in a lifetime.
According to the portal LadBible, purchasing just one gram of this substance could represent 65 years of work for the average Briton. This scenario assumes they wouldn't spend a penny on food, drink, or other basic needs, essentially living for free! In comparison, a Polish person earning the national average might accumulate more than 1.9 million Canadian dollars over 65 years, again, only if no money was spent at all, which is, in reality, impossible.
What exactly is this extraordinary material? Its unusual value derives from its potential applications in technology. Nitrogen-based endohedral Fullerene could revolutionize the development of highly precise yet miniature atomic clocks.
Traditional atomic clocks are enormous—often as large as an entire room—but this new material could help create compact versions. Atomic clocks play a crucial role in navigation, particularly in GPS systems that rely on exceptionally accurate timekeeping. If miniaturized, they could be integrated into everyday devices, such as smartphones, providing unprecedented precision in location tracking.
The world's most expensive substance: where can it be used?
According to "LadBible," scientists from the University of Oxford, who developed this material, believe that endohedral fullerenes may find applications in numerous technological fields, including future mobile devices.
An interesting fact is the material's name itself. "Fullerene" refers to its specific structure, resembling a "cage" of carbon atoms with a nitrogen atom enclosed inside. This name is inspired by the designs of architect Richard Buckminster Fuller, known for constructing geodesic domes based on interlocking triangles.
According to the British portal ladbible.com, the application of this material could unlock new possibilities, including even more precise navigation or unprecedented space exploration.
