Researchers from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory made an epochal scientific discovery that overturns previous notions about the physical characteristics of metals. In a large-scale experiment conducted on July 24, 2025, they demonstrated that gold can maintain its incredible structural integrity at temperatures far beyond standard physical expectations.
Through an innovative laser heating and precise ultra-rapid cooling method on gold foil, specialists achieved a remarkable result – the material remained solid at a temperature of 19,000 K, which represents a 14-fold increase over the classical melting point.
This scientific achievement directly challenges the long-standing "entropy catastrophe theory", according to which materials inevitably undergo gradual dissolution under extreme temperature conditions. The discovery has potentially revolutionary significance for the development of thermonuclear technologies and space materials science.
The obtained experimental data reveal new horizons in understanding the physical properties of metals and can serve as a basis for future technological innovations in areas requiring materials with exceptional thermal resistance.