As far back as we can remember, mankind has been fascinated with gold. Today, we know gold is much scarce than many other metals, and besides its historical context and ornamental use, it has plenty of other uses as well, which makes it highly valuable and sought after, but was this always the case? Let us find out more about this and a lot more as we share some fun facts about gold with you.
1. Gold Came from Space
Yes, you heard that right, gold is truly out of this world and did not naturally form on Earth. Instead, it came to Earth as a result of massive cosmic events like supernova explosions or collisions between neutron stars. These events resulted in the spread of heavy metals, not just on Earth but also in the entire universe, and gold was one of these heavy metals.
2. All the Gold Ever Mined Could Fit in Three Olympic-Sized Pools
This is one of those fun facts about gold that often baffles people as they can’t believe it. But all the gold ever mined and melted can fit in just three Olympic-sized pools. If that is the case, it makes you think about how much gold is actually present on the planet and how much of it we have already mined.
3. Gold Is Edible (Yes, Really)
Considering that gold is already so scarce and valuable, eating it is not the first thing that comes to mind, but you can actually eat gold in its pure form, i.e., 24 karats. It does not contain any toxins and can easily pass through our digestive system. That is why gold leaf is often used in high-end dishes.
4. Gold Is So Soft You Can Dent It with Your Fingernail
Another surprising fun fact about gold is that it is softer than you think. In fact, it is one of the softest metals, so much so that you can dent or bend it even with the slightest force, like from your fingernails.
5. The Human Body Contains Gold
You may have heard of iron in our blood, but our bodies also contain gold, albeit a very minuscule amount of 0.2 mgs and unlike iron, it does not perform a biological function and is simply consumed over a lifetime with water and food.
6. Gold Can Be Stretched Incredibly Thin
We already know that gold is really soft, and we also know that it is one of the best conductors of electricity. So, when you combine both, what do you get? You get gold that can be beaten and stretched into extremely thin sheets and used in electronics like our smartphones.
7. Gold Never Rusts or Tarnishes
One of the best properties of gold is that it does not rust or tarnish, unlike other metals like iron and perhaps this is one of the reasons why gold is so valuable, as it can easily resist oxidation and other such chemical reactions.
8. There’s Gold in the Ocean
Like many other metals and natural resources, you can find gold in seawater, but before you get too excited, its concentration is very low. There is an estimated 20 million tons of gold in the oceans, but compare that to the amount of ocean water, and you get the picture.
9. Gold Is Used in Space Missions
In addition to being used in electronics, gold is also vital for space exploration. Astronaut suits, spacecraft, and satellites are coated with gold to protect them from solar radiation, which we know is harmful.
10. Some Plants Can Absorb Gold
People often keep money plants in their homes for good luck, but what they should keep is trees like eucalyptus, which can absorb gold through their roots. This process is called phytomining, but sadly, you can’t get the gold out of these trees.
11. The Largest Gold Nugget Ever Found Weighed 72 Kilograms
Often, when gold is mined from water, you get tiny nuggets, and even in land, gold veins don’t tend to be too big, but back in 1869, they discovered a gold nugget in Australia weighing 72 kgs and aptly named it “Welcome Stranger.” Sadly, it was melted down shortly after being discovered, so no you cannot see it today.
