Should we be wasting limited resources on cosmetics instead of saving for future gen

[alanwest09872]

Ok we waste gold on so many things that are not needed. The most obvious is jewelery. Well since Gold is the best conductor of electricity shouldnt we be saving that Gold for are future electronics. Not wasting it on Wedding bands, toe rings, belie piercings and so on. I mean we even Berrie it with are dead. So what happens in 100+ years when we don't have much gold left. If they don't find another solution soon couldn't we be screwed.

I know we are currently working with mercury to change it to gold. But as of right now it def is not possible. It takes 200 bucks with of energy to produce 2 dollars worth of gold.

 

[Whiskey16]

You are certainly picking the wrong resource to rant against for a perception of misuse.

Gold isn't going anywhere nor being fancily transformed into a locked and inert state.

 

[alanwest09872]

well which ones are??

and I am not ranting I am just wondering about?

 

[Moonbeam]

Not to worry:

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/gold-from-the-sea/

 

[DrPizza]

"gold is the best conductor of electricity" - not sure where you heard that, but it's wrong.
Copper's resistivity is 1.68 x 10^-8 ohm meters. Gold is 2.44 x 10^-8 ohm meters. So, for equal lengths and cross sectional areas, the gold will have 45% more resistance. Granted, gold is a slightly better conductor than aluminum. Not by a lot though. (15.6% difference) But, since it's so much more malleable and so much denser, you're going to have a lot of trouble with things like overhead wires.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistivity_and_conductivity
You can compare the resistivities of various metals on that page.

Oh, and howdy neighbor to the North.

 

[Whiskey16]

DrPizza, thank you for elaborating upon why gold was the wrong resource for the OP to pick-on...

Yes, far less scarce and valuable metals can return a cheaper and even more successful alternative to gold's application in industry. Gold alloys are most often used as a supplement or covering of more suitable and cheaper conducting materials that are more susceptible to corrosion..

All that said, there has not been the presented display of the existing uses of gold as seriously preventing its recovery and recycled use.

 

[Murloc]

jewels aren't going anywhere, actually the gold buying shops are making bank due to the crisis. No one disperses jewels.

 

[JTsyo]

"gold is the best conductor of electricity" - not sure where you heard that, but it's wrong.
Copper's resistivity is 1.68 x 10^-8 ohm meters. Gold is 2.44 x 10^-8 ohm meters. So, for equal lengths and cross sectional areas, the gold will have 45% more resistance. Granted, gold is a slightly better conductor than aluminum. Not by a lot though. (15.6% difference) But, since it's so much more malleable and so much denser, you're going to have a lot of trouble with things like overhead wires.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistivity_and_conductivity
You can compare the resistivities of various metals on that page.

Oh, and howdy neighbor to the North.

The quality that makes gold good is that doesn't corrode as easily as copper. That's why they use gold playing on connectors. As others have pointed out, if they need gold in the future, they can melt down the jewelery.

What I do find disturbing is how much people spend on non-essential things (cosmetics, entertainment, luxury cars etc.) with credit.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The quality that makes gold good is that doesn't corrode as easily as copper. That's why they use gold playing on connectors. As others have pointed out, if they need gold in the future, they can melt down the jewelery.

What I do find disturbing is how much people spend on non-essential things (cosmetics, entertainment, luxury cars etc.) with credit.

Credit allows you to keep up with the Jones' down the street.:|

Of course, they are also doing the same thing:whiste:

 

[Sonikku]

Nobody cares about future generations. It's now now now now.