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3 results for “XRF analysis” in Science
Science · 9 August 2026
The Metallurgy of Karat
…own in seconds without marking the item. They share the touchstone's blind spot, however: XRF reads only a few microns into the surface, so a heavily gold-plated base-metal item can return a reading indistinguishable from solid gold unless the operator knows to check density or f…
Tomas Herrera · 17 min read
Science · 8 August 2026
The Metal That Went Medical
Divide gold finely enough and it stops being gold-coloured, stops being inert in the way you expect, and starts doing work in places no bullion bar could reach — including the test strip that told you…
Amara Okonjo · 19 min read
Science · 10 August 2026
Where Gold Actually Comes From
Every gram of gold on Earth was manufactured in an astrophysical catastrophe, arrived here after the planet had already formed, and was then concentrated by hot water. Three separate accidents, none o…
Tomas Herrera · 17 min read
