Gold in Science, Technology & Medicine

05.10.2026

Topic guide · Updated October 2026

Gold is famous for its beauty, but scientists and engineers value it for very practical reasons. It conducts electricity extremely well, does not corrode, reflects infrared light and is compatible with the human body. This guide explains why gold matters in science and technology and brings together all our articles on the subject.

Where gold comes from

Gold is not made on Earth. Astronomers believe most of it was created in extreme cosmic events, especially collisions of neutron stars, which produce heavy elements through rapid neutron capture. In 2017 scientists observed such a collision through gravitational waves and light at the same time, providing strong evidence for this idea. Gold reached the Earth with the dust and rock from which the planet formed and later with meteorite impacts.

Unique properties

Conductivity: gold conducts electricity very well and does not oxidise, so contacts stay reliable for years.
Corrosion resistance: it is unaffected by air, water and most acids.
Malleability: one gram of gold can be beaten into a sheet of about one square metre.
Reflectivity: thin gold layers reflect infrared radiation very efficiently.
Biocompatibility: gold is rarely rejected by the body.

Gold in electronics

Almost every smartphone, computer and car contains small amounts of gold in connectors, switches and circuit boards. Each device uses only a tiny quantity, but electronics account for a significant share of industrial gold demand — and old devices are an important source of recycled gold.

Gold in space

Gold-coated films protect satellites and spacecraft from heat and radiation, and astronaut visors use a thin gold layer to filter sunlight. The 18 mirror segments of the James Webb Space Telescope are coated with a very thin layer of gold, which reflects infrared light from the earliest galaxies. Meanwhile, NASA's Psyche mission is on its way to a metal-rich asteroid to study the core of an early planet.

Gold in medicine

Gold has been used in dentistry for centuries. Gold compounds were used for decades to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and gold nanoparticles are now widely studied in diagnostics — for example in rapid test strips — and in experimental cancer therapies. Some cosmetic and wellness claims about gold are less well supported, so it is worth distinguishing proven uses from marketing.

New materials and research

Researchers keep finding new ways to use gold: ultra-thin "goldene" sheets only one atom thick, super-strong gold alloys, gold catalysts that speed up chemical reactions, and new methods to recover gold from electronic waste. Some studies even show how bacteria and plants can concentrate gold from their environment.

Frequently asked questions

Where does gold come from?

Scientists believe most gold was formed in extreme cosmic events, especially collisions between neutron stars, long before the Earth existed.

Why is gold used in electronics?

Gold conducts electricity very well and does not corrode, so connectors and contacts stay reliable for many years even in small amounts.

Why are the James Webb Space Telescope's mirrors gold?

A very thin layer of gold reflects infrared light extremely well, which is the light the telescope uses to observe distant galaxies.

Is gold used in medicine?

Yes. Gold is used in dentistry, gold compounds were used for decades against rheumatoid arthritis, and gold nanoparticles are used in diagnostic tests and studied for cancer treatment.