[pfdietz]

> No, closer to alchemy is the actual creation of gold from other elements with nuclear physics.

The place where this happens is in the liquid mercury target of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge. Here, high energy protons shatter (spall) mercury nuclei, producing fragments that can include gold. An uncommon isotope of mercury can also be converted to gold by neutron capture.

[HappySweeney]

Is it the stable isotope? I understood that the only place to get that was neutron star collision but I would love to know more if wrong.

[pfdietz]

Yes, this can produce the single stable isotope of gold. Not in any practical way, though. It would be cheaper to just mine more of it.