Learn about it here, as you get a peek at how tritium — now considered some of the most precious substances on our planet; is material that Canada once was throwing away during its nuclear operations. Find out how a rare isotope of hydrogen drives everything from glow-in-the-dark keychains to fusion energy research, and why its value will only increase as the quest for clean, abundant power takes off.
The Rise of Tritium’s Value
One time not long ago in Canada, tritium was treated as an interesting but largely irrelevant byproduct of the nation’s nuclear reactor programs. Yet that lowly industrial byproduct has been transmuted, as if by the alchemist’s lab, into one of the most prized commodities on earth.
Originally refused, tritium now sells for USD 30k per gram — which is the costliest material by weight on the planet! That significant uptick in value is likely due to its diversity of uses, from driving novelty glow-in-the-dark keychains and exit signs, all the way to fueling research into cutting-edge fusion energy.
SOURCE SaveSaveBindView All Blips As the world hunts for nice, juicy supplies of clean, unlimited power — and not just as a source of AOL-speak — companies are jockeying to get their hands on some tritium if they want to develop so-called fusion-based power sources. What was formerly nothing but hazardous nuclear waste has now become a sought-after resource and with properties that find application in many different industries, this quote is applicable.
Tritium’s Versatile Applications
The increasing value of tritium lies in its versatility. The rare isotope of hydrogen and its fascinating nature have trickled into a chorus of modern technology, all starring its significant talents.
Glow-in-the-dark keychains and exit signs use tritium, which is one of the most typical uses of this substance. Its capacity to give off a steady, diffused light over years without the requirement for an external power source has made it indispensable in all of these things. Tritium Exit signs can remain illuminated for 2 decades, making it a durable, long-lasting energy efficient alternative to Emergency Lighting.
The consequences of tritium use, however, go much further into consumer goods. This isotope is of major importance in the world of fusion energy research, where researchers are looking to harness it as a potentially limitless power source. Fusion reactors are the systems that rely on tritium to drive nuclear fusion in their reactors, a process that generates huge amounts of energy. With the increasing requirements of sustainable energy solutions, the fusion fuel tritium becomes an extremely valuable commodity, allowing companies to be driven to procure a steady source of this scarce material.
The real-time piece of tritium is a testament to its incredibly unique properties and the human ingenuity that has tapped into them. How tritium has gone from nuclear waste to a $30,000-per-gram commodity is an amazing story of how science can transform the world: From lighting up our lives each day all the way through well into the future of energy.
Conclusion
That reshaping of tritium, once an unwanted Canadian nuclear byproduct, into a precious substance exemplifies the ability of scientific innovation and sheer determination in clean and green energy solutions. As the availability of clean, endless power becomes more and more imperative on a global scale, tritium demand is projected to only soar higher for its use as an extremely potent energy source in addition to all of its other functionalities increasing the price exponentially that guarantees it a place as one of those truly amazing irreplaceable resources.
