Bubsa Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 BBC Article Kryptonite is no longer just the stuff of fiction feared by caped superheroes. A new mineral matching its unique chemistry - as described in the film Superman Returns - has been identified in a mine in Serbia. According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman's powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals. The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum. "I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either - although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange," he told BBC News. Rock heist Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science. Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral's chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in literature - albeit fictional literature. "Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide - and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns. "The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite." The mineral is relatively hard but is very small grained. Each individual crystal is less than five microns (millionths of a metre) across. Elementary clash Identifying its atomic structure required sophisticated analytical facilities at Canada's National Research Council and the assistance and expertise of its researchers, Dr Pamela Whitfield and Dr Yvon Le Page. "'Knowing a material's crystal structure means scientists can calculate other physical properties of the material, such as its elasticity or thermochemical properties," explained Dr Le Page. "Being able to analyse all the properties of a mineral, both chemical and physical, brings us closer to confirming that it is indeed unique." Finding out that the chemical composition of a material was an exact match to an invented formula for the fictitious kryptonite "was the coincidence of a lifetime," he added. The mineral cannot be called kryptonite under international nomenclature rules because it has nothing to do with krypton - a real element in the Periodic Table that takes the form of a gas. Power possibilities Instead, it will be formally named Jadarite when it is described in the European Journal of Mineralogy later this year. Jadar is the name of the place where the Serbian mine is located. Dr Stanley said that if deposits occurred in sufficient quantity it could have some commercial value. It contains boron and lithium - two valuable elements with many applications, he explained. "Borosilicate glasses are used to encapsulate processed radioactive waste, and lithium is used in batteries and in the pharmaceutical industries." Pretty cool, hey? :) Now, if I see a man wearing tight spandex and a red cape flying across the world, I'm gonna freak :P This is how much you all raised for charity. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barihawk Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 It lacks the flouride, though. So it isn't "true" Kryptonite. My heart is broken by the terrible loss I have sustained in my old friends and companions and my poor soldiers. Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won. -Sir Arthur Wellesley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 It lacks the flouride, though. So it isn't "true" Kryptonite. Thanks for pointing out what was already stated in the article. :P Well, what more can you say than, what a coincidence! I'm amazed. :shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrazotis Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 i thought it was already discovered and on the periodic table o well u learn something new, every day... :D thanks to mitsubishi64 who made this sig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 i thought it was already discovered and on the periodic table o well u learn something new, every day... :D That's something you keep quiet and to yourself. :lol: By the way you would of gotten mixed up with Krypton. :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrazotis Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 That's something you keep quiet and to yourself. :lol: By the way you would of gotten mixed up with Krypton. :wink: Krypton so my teacher wasnt mad i thought it was kryptonite lol thanks to mitsubishi64 who made this sig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6cmonkey Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 do you get xtra powers if you lick it, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickCini Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 do you get xtra powers if you lick it, lol :cry: 'ing with laughter. And if you do all you can, that's all you can ever do. - Warren Rudman But men are men; the best sometimes forget. - William Shakespeare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdavies90 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 It lacks the flouride, though. So it isn't "true" Kryptonite. why is that a bad thing? *mines rock containing real kryptonite...exposes the flourine to air.......* BOOM! Sig by me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sem_Nome Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Nice 'o' :thumbsup: "I'm afraid it's not green and it doesn't glow either - although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange" Rofl pinkish-orange. Don't get any pimps over there we will all get killed!!!!! :o :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karmastocracy Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Uh oh, Kryptonite! I must hide! *Flies out the window* Guide to Everything Fletching XBL: Karmastocracy[stumbleupon]* Sits on a mossy rock with a notebook in hand, observing the behavior of the specimens dubbed "Fanboys"~"Even when the odds are against you, even when the chance of victory is bleak and your situation looks hopeless, take a look at the horizon, and think back to what you have learned. You'll be filled with the confidence to take on the world." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon_7 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 That's interesting to say the least. It's really too bad that Christopher Reeve isn't around to see it. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assassin_696 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Ah, that would explain my headache then :P "Da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacab Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Rawr. Wasn't the kryptonite that sapped superman's powers a rock fragment from the planet he originally was from that asploded? I'm not sure. Anyway, it's pink-ish oranges when exposhed to UV's, and there's a pink kryptonite that makes superman like men. I'm serious. ery.com/seduction/102.html]Click here to see the cover of it. Of course. I'm not sure if that's exactly "appropriate" for this board though, eh... haven't been on in a while. We don't rebel to sell it just suits us well, we're the bright young things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgfuyfyuiuy0 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Pretty cool, hey? :) Now, if I see a man wearing tight spandex and a red cape flying across the world, I'm gonna freak :P *Takes off red spandex, red cape, and runs outside to catch a taxi* I think that's pretty wierd that it happened to be very similar :-s I <3 Gears of War 2. Add me on Xbox Live and mention you are from Tif :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AniseCookies Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 First thought when I saw this topic title was "Wait, how can a song be found in a mine? :? " :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakebite420 Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Awsome! i love science and finding new stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocobodude0 Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Intresting news. No Superman joke here, you know why? Because... I'm a Batman fan! 8-) :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellbellz Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Looks pretty cool.I don't hope a kid living in his parents basement eventually mine some, and go sell it on Ebay. I can just imagine that now. :lol: I swore i saw some superman flying the other day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Intresting news. No Superman joke here, you know why? Because... I'm a Batman fan! 8-) :wink: Marvel>DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilev Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 lol edit: sorry skimmed it a little to much and missed something, so just ignore me lol any way....that is kinna weird that Lex Luther stole formula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runeman231 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 I heard about this on my favorite podcast, American Cliche Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runescapeloser22 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Awesome, now we just need a plane to start falling into a baseball stadium and we'll have Superman Returns! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamyj2 Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Uh oh! they found it! i thought i destroyed it! *Zaps hole in wall and flys off* AHHHH! PLAYER QUEST: The Spoils of War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercifull Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Its not really Kryptonite tho is it? I mean its like saying Oxygen is similar to water despite it doesn't contain any hydrogen and its a gas not a liquid. Mercifull <3 Suzi "We don't want players to be able to buy their way to success in RuneScape. If we let players start doing this, it devalues RuneScape for others. We feel your status in real-life shouldn't affect your ability to be successful in RuneScape" Jagex 01/04/01 - 02/03/12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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