Direct from the big bang - Deuterium

Moonliner · 05-25-2011, 10:52 AM

I'm reading "The 4 Percent Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality" by Richard Panek.

A fascinating read about Cosmology, dark matter, dark energy, and the politics of scientific research.

One small factoid I picked up from the book regards the hydrogen isotope Deuterium. Unlike most of the other things around us, Deuterium cannot be created in stars. All the existing deuterium was created along with the rest of the universe in the big bang.

Which makes it the oldest thing in the entire universe you can lay your hands on. About 13.75 billion years if current theory holds.

I want some! So what if it's primary use is in nuclear reactors, I'm going to the World Science Fiction Convention in a couple of months and I need some geek bling..... "Hey dude, that's a nice Ammonite Fossil Necklace you're wearing, very contemporary of you. Wanna see something really old?

I did a little Goggling and it turns out you can actually purchase Deuterium, primarily in the form of heavy water. Which in reasonable quantities is as dangerous as water. You can even drink it or make ice cubes that sink to the bottom of your glass out of it.

So NA (jewelry maker extraordinaire) How can I create a bit of bling from something that looks, smells and even tastes like water but is just a bit heavier?

05-25-2011, 10:52 AM	#1
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Direct from the big bang - Deuterium I'm reading "The 4 Percent Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality" by Richard Panek. A fascinating read about Cosmology, dark matter, dark energy, and the politics of scientific research. One small factoid I picked up from the book regards the hydrogen isotope Deuterium. Unlike most of the other things around us, Deuterium cannot be created in stars. All the existing deuterium was created along with the rest of the universe in the big bang. Which makes it the oldest thing in the entire universe you can lay your hands on. About 13.75 billion years if current theory holds. I want some! So what if it's primary use is in nuclear reactors, I'm going to the World Science Fiction Convention in a couple of months and I need some geek bling..... "Hey dude, that's a nice Ammonite Fossil Necklace you're wearing, very contemporary of you. Wanna see something really old? I did a little Goggling and it turns out you can actually purchase Deuterium, primarily in the form of heavy water. Which in reasonable quantities is as dangerous as water. You can even drink it or make ice cubes that sink to the bottom of your glass out of it. So NA (jewelry maker extraordinaire) How can I create a bit of bling from something that looks, smells and even tastes like water but is just a bit heavier? __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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