Changes

Transmutations take place under extreme conditions in stars like the sun (e.g. nuclear fusion) and can be observed in natural radioactive decay. In principle, they can also be controlled by man. For example in nuclear fission processes (nuclear power plants, atomic and hydrogen bomb explosions). Neutron bombardment or bombardment with charged particles may lead to transmutations, e.g. in atomic reactors. Since the 1940ies, Plutonium 239 and Uranium 233 are won from Uranium 238 and Thorium 232 industrially to build atomic bombs.

Transmutations take place under extreme conditions in stars like the sun (e.g. nuclear fusion) and can be observed in natural radioactive decay. In principle, they can also be controlled by man. For example in nuclear fission processes (nuclear power plants, atomic and hydrogen bomb explosions). Neutron bombardment or bombardment with charged particles may lead to transmutations, e.g. in atomic reactors. Since the 1940ies, Plutonium 239 and Uranium 233 are won from Uranium 238 and Thorium 232 industrially to build atomic bombs.

In theory transmutations might have practical appliance for the creation of gold or other precious metals, but costs and effort are too high and therefore not attractive commercially. Transmutation facilities could be used to dispose nuclear waste, but as of 2011, just small experimental facilities exist. A European research facility(MYRRHA project) is planned in Mol, Belgium and might be built by 2020. The necessary time of final storage of the remaining waste should be reduced from 500,000 years to 500.<ref>[http://www.pro-physik.de/Phy/leadArticle.do?laid=12664 Umwandlung im großen Maßstab], Physik Journal</ref><ref>[http://matclean.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/81/ Is the MYRRHA-reactor the solution we are looking for?]</ref>

In theory transmutations might have practical appliance for the creation of gold or other precious metals, but costs and effort are too high and therefore not attractive commercially. Transmutation facilities could be used to dispose nuclear waste, but as of 2011, just small experimental facilities exist. A European research facility (MYRRHA project) is planned in Mol, Belgium and might be built by 2020. The necessary time of final storage of the remaining waste should be reduced from 500,000 years to 500.<ref>[http://www.pro-physik.de/Phy/leadArticle.do?laid=12664 Umwandlung im großen Maßstab], Physik Journal</ref><ref>[http://matclean.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/81/ Is the MYRRHA-reactor the solution we are looking for?]</ref>

==Origin==

==Origin==