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> That means that if ever a matter and antimatter particle come into contact, they will annihilate each other in a burst of energy.

Dumb q: if you could get a bunch of anti-matter, could it be harvested to generate electricity?




You'd need some way to capture the gamma-ray photons and pions, but yes. I'd recommend a wall of plasma.

...then use that to run a steam engine. Sigh. We'll never escape those.


Yes, but the only ways we know to generate antimatter require a lot of energy. Theoretically it could be an incredibly energy dense "battery" for spaceships or whatever though.


It’s expensive too[1]. “Right now, antimatter is the most expensive substance on Earth, about $62.5 trillion a gram ($1.75 quadrillion an ounce).”

[1] https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/p...


Humans use positrons all the time though, it just turns out (anti)leptons have extremely low mass relative to their usefulness.


Of course they really nail you on the shipping and handling fees.


They're genuinely working on being able to deliver it in the back of a van: https://home.cern/news/news/physics/cern-approves-two-new-ex...


Yes. With small amount of matter/antimatter, It actually can power an interstellar travel where it accelerates 1g for years.


to mars and back in a few days at 1g.




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