Golden moment in nanotechnology

Gold has emotional, cultural and financial value, and different people around the world buy it for a variety of reasons. It also has unique properties as a metal, with reliability and versatility that make it indispensable in engineering and electronics. Since gold conducts electricity, is resistant to corrosion and is biocompatible, its most recent application as a nanomaterial offers new solutions for a range of global health and environmental challenges.

Throughout history, gold has been treasured as an object of natural beauty and radiance. For that reason, many cultures, such as the Egyptians, felt that gold best represented the sun. The elemental symbol of gold is Au – and it comes from the Greek word "aurum", which means "glow of sunshine".

Hallmarking gold jewellery also became a form of consumer protection, dating back to King Louis IX of France and Edward I of England in the 13th century. Their prescribed mark, and subsequent ones for individual goldsmiths and production dates, became a prerequisite for any gold offered for public sale.