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What exotic science fiction technology would you finance research into, if you had billions of dollars? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by TehBamski@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

I did some googling and math. Global platinum market is 8 million oz a year. Current spot price is ~$900. That's $7T per year. They would have a monopoly and be able to shut down all mines by undercutting the price selling at say $800/oz. If it cost $40 Billion to mine the asteroid, that means it would take 7 years to pay back the cost.

7 year payback is short for businesses. Commercial Solar is installed despite having a 10 year payback.