Gold has fascinated us for thousands of years. It is a symbol of elegance and wealth. Scientists have discovered why it never loses its shine. Researchers found that gold does not rust or change colour because of the structure of atoms on its surface. The atoms rearrange themselves into unique zigzag patterns. This minimizes reactions with oxygen. As a result, the metal does not become discoloured, even after thousands of years.

Gold is one of the softest metals. It can easily be hammered into thin sheets. Gold can be beaten to a thickness of 0.1 micrometres. This is one hundred times thinner than human hair. Its purity is why people have used it for jewellery and currency for more than 5,000 years. It is also used in electronics, dentistry, spacecraft technology, and medicine. Researchers say gold will remain a key part of many industrial processes.