Trending Now - Researchers Discover Why Gold Retains Its Luster and Shine

WHO:

Gizmodo - Matthew Montemore, co-author and chemical engineer at Tulane University; Santu Biswas, postdoctoral fellow at Tulane University; Chris Schaller, retired physicist with the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University; Mark Lorch, biochemist at the University of Hull in the U.K.

WHAT:

Gizmodo - Researchers published a study in Physical Review Letters identifying how gold retains its shine.

Phys.org - Gold's resistance to tarnishing is attributed to more than just its chemistry.

Gizmodo - Gold's surface atoms rearrange into distinct patterns that suppress oxygen reactions by a factor of a billion to a trillion.

Gizmodo - The study analyzed two common types of gold surfaces, Au(110) and Au(100).

Gizmodo - The findings suggest that physical manipulations of gold’s surface geometry might enhance its catalytic properties.

WHERE:

Gizmodo - Research conducted at Tulane University.

Phys.org - The study discusses gold's properties in a general context without specific location details.

WHEN:

Gizmodo - The study was published in Physical Review Letters on an unspecified date.

WHY:

Gizmodo - The new understanding of gold's properties could open new avenues for research in chemistry.

Gizmodo - Gold's natural resistance to oxidation makes it ideal for jewelry but limits its usefulness in chemical manufacturing and energy applications.

HOW:

Gizmodo - Researchers used computer simulations to predict how atoms and electrons on gold’s surface behave upon meeting oxygen molecules.

Gizmodo - The study found that a hexagonal structure generated by surface atoms keeps oxygen away, while other structures were less effective.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 23:24 UTC)

Researchers from Tulane University have published a study in Physical Review Letters that reveals how gold retains its shine, attributing its resistance to tarnishing to more than just its chemistry. The study found that gold's surface atoms rearrange into distinct patterns that significantly suppress reactions with oxygen, and it suggests that manipulating gold's surface geometry could enhance its catalytic properties. Using computer simulations, the team discovered that a hexagonal structure formed by surface atoms effectively keeps oxygen at bay, while other configurations were less successful.