Gold Reveals Hidden Reactivity Under Extreme Pressure
In a high‑pressure lab, researchers formed gold hydride by compressing hydrogen with thin gold foil inside a diamond‑anvil cell and heating with X‑ray pulses, creating the first solid compound made of gold and hydrogen in the lab. The result challenges gold’s reputation as inert, shows how extreme conditions can trigger new chemistry, and provides a model system for studying dense hydrogen relevant to planetary interiors and fusion research.
