The Most Expensive Substance on Earth Costs $140 Million per Gram

When people think of the most valuable things money can buy, images of palaces, rare jewels, or precious metals often come to mind. Yet, the most expensive material on Earth is not something you can wear or display. It is a fine carbon-based powder so rare and costly that even a fraction of a gram can be worth a fortune.

This substance, known as Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes, consists of a cage of 60 carbon atoms with a single nitrogen atom trapped inside. To put its price in perspective, less than a gram can sell for around £110 million ($140 million).

The extraordinary value comes from the immense difficulty of producing even the smallest amount. In 2015, the start-up Designer Carbon Materials sold its first 200 milligrams for £110 million. The University of Oxford, whose scientists were involved in the research, described it as “the most expensive thing on Earth.”

Fullerenes, often nicknamed “buckyballs” because of their perfectly spherical, soccer-ball-like arrangement of carbon atoms, were first discovered in 1985 and earned their discoverers the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.

They belong to the broader family of carbon allotropes, which also includes graphite, graphene, and diamond. What makes fullerenes remarkable is not just their symmetry, but the way their structure creates unusual physical, chemical, and electronic properties.

Their hollow cages can trap other atoms or molecules inside, forming what scientists call “endohedral fullerenes.” The type used in Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes is particularly special because the nitrogen atom inside gives it an exceptionally long electron spin lifetime.

This means the electrons remain in a stable quantum state for far longer than in most materials, a feature that is incredibly valuable for precision technology.

Such stability makes them ideal for quantum computing components, ultra-accurate atomic clocks, and potentially even highly sensitive magnetic field detectors. The combination of chemical resilience, quantum stability, and the ability to precisely control the atom inside has made this fullerene variant one of the most sought-after molecular structures in advanced science.

The carbon-based material consists of an atom of nitrogen enclosed in a cage of 60 carbon atoms

The University of Oxford

One of its most promising uses is in miniaturized atomic clocks. Standard atomic clocks are the size of a room, but the properties of these fullerenes make it possible to shrink them down to a chip. These smaller clocks could be fitted into smartphones, dramatically increasing GPS accuracy to within one millimeter.

“Imagine a miniaturized atomic clock that you could carry around in your smartphone,” Dr. Kyriakos Porfyrakis, a nanomaterial scientist who has worked on the material since 2001, told The Telegraph in 2015. “This is the next revolution for mobile.”

Understanding the Psychology of Value Perception

Our perception of value is often influenced by scarcity, rarity, and exclusivity, contributing to our perceived value of objects such as the Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes. This psychological principle is described in the Scarcity Principle theory, proposed by Robert Cialdini in his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. In essence, the rarer an item, the more value it tends to have in our minds.

Fullerenes were first discovered in 1985 and earned their discoverers the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.

Fullerenes are also known as 'buckyballs' because of their spherical shape

National Institute of Standards and Technology

The potential impact goes far beyond better map apps. Lucius Cary, director of the Oxford Technology SEIS fund, explained that such clocks could transform autonomous vehicle navigation. “If two cars are coming towards each other on a country lane, knowing where they are to within 2 meters is not enough, but to 1 millimeter it is sufficient,” he said. “Every mobile phone could one day contain one of these things.”

With advances in nanotechnology accelerating, the vision Cary described a decade ago is edging closer to reality. One day, the world’s most expensive substance could be quietly working inside the phone in your pocket, helping you navigate with unprecedented precision.

Interestingly, our brains are wired to ascribe value to objects that we can't easily obtain. This can be explained by the Reward Prediction Error hypothesis, a theory in neuroscience that suggests our brains release dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, not only when we receive a reward but also when the reward exceeds our expectations (Schultz, 2016). Thus, the sheer rarity and cost of an item like Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes could stimulate dopamine release, creating a sense of pleasure and desire.

What Research Shows About Materialism and Happiness

Despite the allure of rare and expensive items, research has consistently shown that material possessions don't necessarily bring us lasting happiness. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a prominent happiness researcher, states, "The pursuit of material wealth often leads to a fleeting sense of satisfaction, rather than true happiness." This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, who emphasizes that "the more we focus on material goods, the less fulfilled we feel." This suggests that while the intrigue of substances like Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes might be appealing, it's unlikely to contribute to long-term contentment. For more insights, visit Sonja Lyubomirsky's website and Jonathan Haidt's website.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, the human fascination with Nitrogen Atom-Based Endohedral Fullerenes and similar rarities can be understood through principles of value perception, reward prediction, and the dichotomy between materialism and happiness. Dr. Dan Gilbert, a renowned happiness researcher, states, "The greatest predictor of happiness is not wealth, but the quality of our relationships." This aligns with findings that suggest our brains are wired to perceive rare items as valuable and rewarding, yet our long-term happiness doesn't necessarily correlate with material wealth. This paradox serves as a reminder that while we may be drawn to the most expensive substance on Earth, it's not tangible possessions, but rather experiences, relationships, and personal growth that truly enrich our lives (Dr. Dan Gilbert).