In an era where environmental sustainability is more crucial than ever, the old mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle” has evolved into innovative lifehacks that turn everyday waste into valuable assets. These creative methods not only help save money but also significantly reduce our ecological footprint, offering a dual benefit that is increasingly important in today’s world.

This exploration of waste transformation is not merely about finding practical solutions; it’s a testament to human ingenuity and our capacity to adapt to a world with limited resources. Join us as we delve into ten remarkable ways to turn what many consider trash into practical gold, proving that with a bit of creativity and determination, the possibilities are endless and inspiring.

Related: 10 Lies You Believe About Plastic Recycling

10 Greasecars: Driving on Vegetable Oil

The concept of running vehicles on waste vegetable oil might sound futuristic, yet it is a practical and increasingly popular reality. Known as “greasecars,” these vehicles operate using refined waste vegetable oil instead of traditional fuel, turning a common waste product into a valuable resource. The transformation process involves collecting used cooking oil from restaurants, filtering out food particles, and chemically treating it to perform effectively in diesel engines.

Utilizing greasecars is not just an economical choice but a significant environmental boon. By repurposing waste oil, we dramatically reduce the emission of harmful pollutants compared to standard diesel engines. The practice also decreases dependency on fossil fuels, aligning with global sustainability goals. Restaurants benefit as well, as their waste product, typically a disposal headache, becomes a sought-after commodity.

Moreover, the greasecar movement embodies a broader philosophy of waste reclamation and resource efficiency that could inspire similar innovations in other industries. As we confront the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, technologies like greasecars offer tangible solutions that empower individuals and communities to make a difference. The shift toward such technologies is not merely about adopting new energy sources; it’s about fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability that can drive us toward a cleaner, greener future.^[1]

9 Upcycled Plastic Bottle Greenhouses

Turning plastic waste into a functional structure is both an art and a necessity in today’s eco-conscious world. One remarkable application of this concept is the creation of greenhouses from upcycled plastic bottles. This innovative approach recycles materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill overload and fosters sustainable agriculture.

Individuals and communities gather large quantities of plastic bottles, stacking them to construct the walls and roofs of greenhouses. The bottles are filled with water or left empty, depending on the climate and the insulation needed. These structures allow for excellent light penetration and retain warmth, creating an ideal environment for growing a variety of plants year-round. Moreover, because plastic bottles are lightweight and easily replaceable, maintaining and modifying these greenhouses is both simple and cost-effective.

The benefits of such greenhouses extend beyond just environmental sustainability. They also serve as fantastic educational tools for teaching children and adults alike about the importance of recycling and sustainable living. Furthermore, they can significantly reduce the cost of fresh produce in local communities, especially in urban areas where space and resources are limited.

Creating greenhouses from recycled plastic bottles showcases the incredible potential of simple materials to make a significant impact. This project not only aids in reducing the ecological footprint but also enhances food security and community well-being, making it a golden example of how everyday waste can be transformed into valuable resources.^[2]

8 DIY Bio-Bricks from Paper Waste

In a world overflowing with paper waste, innovative solutions are crucial. One such solution is the creation of DIY bio-bricks, a process that transforms unwanted paper into sturdy, usable bricks. These bricks, made from compressed paper waste, offer a lightweight and eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials.

The process begins with shredding discarded paper, including newspapers, magazines, and office paper, which is then soaked in water to create a pulp. This pulp is mixed with a natural binder, such as starch or clay, to enhance the structural integrity of the bricks. Once the mixture is ready, it’s placed into molds and left to dry, resulting in hard, lightweight bricks perfect for various construction projects.

These bio-bricks are not only a testament to recycling efficiency but also provide excellent insulation properties. They are ideal for building small structures like garden sheds or workshops, and their unique texture can add aesthetic value to any project. By using bio-bricks, individuals and communities can significantly reduce their construction costs and environmental impact.

The simplicity of making bio-bricks allows anyone with basic tools and materials to contribute to a greener planet. This DIY approach helps manage waste while also inspiring a culture of sustainability and resourcefulness in construction practices, turning everyday paper waste into valuable building blocks.^[3]

7 Old Clothes to Reusable Tote Bags

Transforming old clothes into reusable tote bags is a simple yet profoundly impactful way to minimize textile waste. This creative recycling project not only extends the life of fabric but also reduces the need for plastic shopping bags, tackling two environmental issues simultaneously.

The process involves selecting durable textiles from worn-out clothes, such as jeans or cotton shirts, and cutting them into desired shapes and sizes. Sewing these pieces together can be a fun DIY project or a community activity, fostering a sense of creativity and environmental responsibility. The design of the bags can be customized with additional features like pockets or decorative patches, making each bag unique and personalized.

These tote bags serve multiple purposes; they are perfect for grocery shopping, carrying books, or even as a casual accessory. By using these bags, individuals contribute directly to reducing the demand for disposable bags, which are a major source of pollution and landfill waste.

The movement toward making and using fabric tote bags from old clothes is growing, as it promotes sustainable living practices while allowing people to express their style and creativity. It’s a practical demonstration of how small, thoughtful actions can create significant environmental change, turning old, unwanted textiles into useful and stylish items.^[4]

6 Organic Dye from Avocado Pits and Onion Skins

The art of creating organic dye from avocado pits and onion skins is a remarkable example of how everyday kitchen waste can be transformed into something extraordinarily useful. This sustainable practice both reduces food waste and offers a non-toxic alternative to the harsh chemicals found in many commercial dyes.

The process begins with collecting and cleaning the pits from avocados and the papery outer skins of onions. These materials are then boiled in water to extract their natural colors, which can range from soft pinks to deep browns, depending on the concentration and combination of the materials used. The resulting liquid is a rich, vibrant dye that can be used for coloring fabrics, yarn, or even paper.

Using these natural dyes for artistic or practical purposes not only helps in minimizing waste but also reconnects people with traditional crafts. Moreover, it provides a safe and environmentally friendly option for artists and crafters who are concerned about the ecological impact of synthetic dyes. The process encourages creativity and experimentation, as different materials and techniques can yield a variety of shades and intensities.

This method of making dye is accessible to anyone and serves as a fantastic way to integrate sustainable practices into everyday life, showcasing the incredible potential of turning ordinary waste into valuable and colorful resources.^[5]

5 Soap from Used Cooking Oil

Reusing used cooking oil to make soap is an ingenious method of waste conversion that turns a common kitchen by-product into a valuable hygiene product. This process helps reduce waste and minimizes the environmental pollution associated with improperly disposing of used oil.

The transformation involves purifying the used cooking oil to remove any food particles and odors. This purified oil is then mixed with a lye solution under controlled conditions to initiate the saponification process. As the mixture thickens, essential oils or fragrances can be added for scent, and natural colorants may be included to enhance the soap’s appearance. The final product is an eco-friendly soap that is gentle on the skin and perfect for daily use.

This method of recycling not only provides a practical use for waste oil but also offers a cost-effective alternative to commercially manufactured soaps. By making soap from used cooking oil, individuals and small businesses can create a product that is both environmentally sustainable and beneficial for the community.

Encouraging the adoption of such recycling practices promotes environmental awareness and responsibility, demonstrating how small-scale initiatives can lead to significant ecological benefits. The practice of making soap from used oil exemplifies a sustainable approach to waste management, highlighting the potential to create useful and desirable products from materials that would otherwise contribute to pollution.^[6]

4 Making Chalk with Eggshells

The transformation of eggshells into chalk is a brilliant example of repurposing everyday kitchen waste into a practical and educational tool. This process not only diverts waste from landfills but also provides an inexpensive resource for classrooms and crafts.

To begin, collected eggshells are washed thoroughly to remove any residue and then dried. Once dry, the shells are ground into a fine powder, a task that can be easily accomplished with a mortar and pestle or a small food processor. The powdered eggshell is then mixed with a small amount of flour and hot water to create a thick paste. This mixture can be molded into any shape, but cylindrical or stick forms are most common for traditional chalk.

After shaping, the chalk sticks are left to dry completely, resulting in a firm, usable writing tool. This homemade chalk is ideal for blackboards and sidewalks, offering a low-cost alternative to store-bought options. Moreover, it can be colored with natural dyes to make the activity even more engaging for children.

This simple yet effective recycling project encourages educational activities and instills a sense of environmental responsibility in young learners. By creating chalk from eggshells, we teach children the value of recycling and the potential to transform waste into useful products, fostering creativity and sustainability in the next generation.^[7]

3 Make a Hanging Light Out of a Wine Bottle

Transforming an empty wine bottle into a stylish hanging light fixture is an innovative way to upcycle glass that might otherwise end up in the trash. This DIY project repurposes waste while also adding a unique aesthetic touch to any space, demonstrating the potential of creative reuse.

The process begins by carefully cutting the bottom off a clean wine bottle, a step that requires specific tools like a glass cutter and some practice to ensure a smooth edge. The cut bottle is then sanded down to remove any sharp edges, making it safe for handling. Next, a light fixture kit is fitted into the neck of the bottle, which involves wiring a bulb holder and securing it in place. For a more artistic touch, the exterior of the bottle can be painted or decorated with frosted designs to enhance the light’s effect when turned on.

Hanging the finished wine bottle lights from the ceiling creates a charming and ambient atmosphere, ideal for dining areas or outdoor patios. It’s a conversation starter and a testament to the beauty and functionality that can be achieved with simple, discarded materials.

This project can brighten a room, shining a light on the importance of sustainability. By converting old wine bottles into elegant light fixtures, we can reduce waste and decorate our homes in an environmentally conscious and inventive way.^[8]

2 Making Pom Poms with Old Newspapers

Crafting pom poms from old newspapers is an engaging way to recycle paper waste into decorative items that can be used for various festive or artistic purposes. This creative reuse not only helps reduce paper waste but also offers a fun and inexpensive crafting activity for all ages.

The process begins by cutting newspaper into long, thin strips, which are then tightly rolled around a fork or a small piece of cardboard to maintain uniformity. These rolls are secured with string or rubber bands in the middle to create a binding point. Next, the loops at the ends of the rolls are carefully cut to form the fluffy structure of the pom pom. Fluffing out the cut strips transforms the dense paper rolls into light, airy pom poms.

These newspaper pom poms can be painted or sprayed with various colors to match any theme or decor, making them versatile for use in party decorations, gift toppers, or even as playful additions to costumes. Moreover, engaging in such craft activities can be particularly educational for children, teaching them the value of recycling and creativity.

By turning old newspapers into charming pom poms, this project not only cultivates creativity but also promotes environmental awareness, showcasing how simple materials can be transformed into delightful and useful objects.^[9]

1 Converting Sawdust to Woodworking Projects

The reuse of sawdust in woodworking projects is a fantastic example of how industrial by-products can be repurposed into valuable items. This approach not only reduces waste but also harnesses the potential of a material often overlooked in larger manufacturing processes.

Sawdust, a common by-product of cutting and sanding wood, can be collected and mixed with a binder like resin or glue to create a moldable composite material. This mixture can then be pressed into molds or shaped by hand to form various objects such as decorative items, small furniture pieces, or even artistic sculptures. The flexibility of this material allows for a wide range of creativity and application, making it a popular choice among crafters and professional woodworkers alike.

In addition to its practical uses, converting sawdust into new projects is a step toward sustainable practices in the woodworking industry. It conserves raw materials and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with wood waste. By finding new uses for sawdust, woodworkers can minimize their ecological footprint while still creating beautiful and functional items.

This method exemplifies how seemingly insignificant materials can be transformed into resources that provide utility and aesthetic value. It encourages a culture of recycling and innovation, proving that even the smallest particles of waste can contribute to sustainable development in modern craftsmanship.^[10]

For about as long as people have placed a value on physical things, gold has had worth. Not just because it’s shiny but because it’s rare and it doesn’t corrode, making it reliable and consistent over the long term. It’s soft enough to mold into shapes and also dense which tricks humans into thinking a thing is of greater value as well. So people have been coveting it for ages. But all the gold mined in the world would only make a 22 meter cube if it was all put together.

Some people have lucked into gold and others have put extensive effort, both illegal and illegal, into getting more. So what does a huge gold score really look like? Here are ten of the most remarkable. 

10. A 12-Year-Old Found a 17 Pound Gold Nugget and Used it As a Doorstop

Twelve-year-old Conrad Reed has been credited with starting the gold rush in America thanks to his accidental discovery in 1799. Reed had gone to the local creek to go fishing and discovered a shiny rock in the water. He pulled it out, all 17 lbs of it, and brought it home. His dad decided it would make a nice door stop. It stayed there, holding a door open, for three years.

Reed’s dad showed the rock to a local jeweler who asked if he could keep it overnight to have a look see. He refined it down to an 8 inch bar of gold worth $3,600. The crooked as a corkscrew jeweler then took advantage of Reed’s ignorance and offered him $3.50 for it, which he accepted. 

On the upside, Reed soon realized what happened and started mining his land. Later they even discovered a 28 pound nugget. 

9. A California Couple Found $10 Million in Coins on Their Property

Imagine taking your dog for a walk on your own property. You go along the same route you take every day, passing a spot where a rusted old can is sticking out of the ground. It’s away from the house, no place special, and you never give that can much thought. Until one day…

A couple known only as John and Mary had seen the can on their property for a long while and one day decided to just dig it up and see if they could figure out why someone put it there. They discovered 8 more coffee cans underground when they did so, And each can was filled with gold coins.

In total, 1,427 coins were unearthed with a value estimated to be about $10 million. It is the largest hoard of gold coins ever found in the US. The face value of the coins, minted in San Francisco in the mid to late 1800s, was about $28,000. The rarest of the coins all by itself was worth $1 million.

8. $500 Million in Sunken Treasure Had to Be Returned to Spain

Most people have probably indulged in the dream of finding sunken treasure at one time or another. Movies like Pirates of the Caribbean make it seem like something enticing. And it’s true that our oceans are full of gold, much of it from Spanish ships that were pillaging the new world but never made it back to Europe. At least one estimate guessed the value of the world’s sunken treasure to be around $60 billion.

The reality of sunken treasure is not nearly as glamorous as some people think. Sunken treasure isn’t free money. The treasure likely belongs to either the nation in which the ship sank or the nation from which it set sail. That’s why $500 million in treasure found in 2007 ended up back in the hands of the Spanish government.  

A company called Odyssey Marine Exploration undertook a salvage mission to retrieve the huge score off the coast of Spain but found themselves in a legal battle. They hid the coins in the US and Spain sued and then won. The company appealed and lost that as well. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, who also ruled in Spain’s favor. Not only did they have to return the coins, they also had to pay $1 million for bad faith litigation. 

7. An Amateur Bought His First Metal Detector and Found a Stash of Roman Coins 

Some people absolutely love metal detecting. You can find one on nearly every beach in the summer, and others wander through local parks looking for discarded pocket change or lost jewelry. And every so often they make an actually stunning find. 

Wesley Carrington bought a cheap metal detector from a hardware store on a whim and decided to see what he could find in the woods near his house. Twenty minutes later he dug up 55 Roman coins worth an estimated $150,000. The coins dated back 1,600 years and over a hundred more were later discovered in the same spot.

6. The Biggest Gold Nugget Ever Found was 72 kg 

It’s one thing to find a lot of gold in the form of coins but what about one, single nugget? The biggest ever discovered hailed from Australia in 1869. 

A pair of miners found the nugget which they named Welcome Stranger and you have to assume they were pretty excited when they pulled it out of the ground. It weighed in at 72 kilograms which is roughly 158.7 pounds. At modern prices that’s worth about $4.5 million. 

When the men found it they were paid £10,000 for it which was more or less fair market value at the time. 

5. A Man in New York Makes a Living Street Prospecting

The gold rush has been over for some years now and most modern gold mining is done by enormous companies. It’s rare for anyone to strike it rich on a whim but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In fact, there’s a bit of a prospecting game still open in the most unlikely of places – the streets of major cities like New York.

Gold, heavy as it is, settles in low places. Back in the day this was why panning for gold worked in streets. But now, prospectors can do the same thing in places like Manhattan. 

In 2011, Raffi Stepanian was collecting dirt and refuse from the sidewalks in New York’s diamond district under the assumption that jewelers would have had flakes of gold on their shoes and walked outside again and again over the years. He sifted through pounds of dirt scraped from between sidewalk stones and salvaged $800 worth of gold, plus fragments of diamonds and other stones. 

Three years later, Stepanian claimed he could make $500 to $900 a week with what he was digging up. 

4. A Treasure Hunter in 1987 Found $1 Billion on a Sunken Ship 

The allure of gold can be powerful, and we all know that money can have a corrupting influence. The bigger the payday, the bigger the potential moral failings that may come with it.

In 1987 a treasure hunter named Tommy Thompson made the find of a lifetime. A shipwreck worth a cool $1 billion, at least according to Thompson. We don’t really know since Thompson raided the wreck of the SS Central America and hid the gold he took from it. It’s believed he salvaged at least three tons. He sold at least $50 million in the year 2000.

A judge held him in contempt of court in 2015 for refusing to say where the rest of the gold was hidden and to this day he remains behind bars.

The SS Central America sank in 1857 off the coast of South Carolina. Thousands of pounds of gold was on board and we know Thompson took a lot despite not having authority to do so. An ingot from the wreck was sold at auction in 2022 for $2 million. 

At least 500 coins minted from the gold he stole are missing but Thompson has refused to speak. He said in the past that the coins, worth $2.5 million, were sent to a trust in Belize. He was also on the lam for a few years before authorities found him in a Florida hotel in 2015. He had $420,000 in $100 bills on him.

Prior to all of this, Thompson raised tens of millions from investors to lead the expedition to salvage the gold, at least $55 million in fact. But no one ever saw a return and his crew didn’t even get paid. Even when he was auctioning off much of the $100 million to $400 million worth of gold that he’d recovered. It’s up in the air whether anyone will discover what happened to it all if Thompson refuses to talk.

3. A Turkey Fertilizer Company Found $6 Billion in Gold

In 2020, a Turkish fertilizer company stumbled upon a gold reserve estimated at 99 tons. With an estimated value of $6 billion, the company had to form partnerships in order to set up a mining company to extract it hoping to retain about $3 billion in profit for themselves. 

This was part of a gold boom that hit Turkey around 2020. After the economy hit a slump, gold mining was privatized, and the country went from producing just 1.4 tons in 2001 to 38 tons in 2019. The goal for 2020 was over 40 tons because of 33 new deposits discovered in the previous 15 years. The plan is to be producing 100 tons per year by 2025. 

2. A 4-Year-Old Found a Gold Pendant Worth Millions

The average four-year-old is not making a lot of money if for no other reason than they tend to have just barely mastered balance and speech at that age and things are tough enough already. But there are exceptions to every rule and one such exception was James Hyatt.

While out in a field with his dad, James was using a metal detector and stumbled upon something. His dad helped him dig down about 6 or 8 inches until they discovered something made of gold. That find turned out to be a 500-year-old gold reliquary pendant carved with the names of the Magi and an image of Jesus. The value was later estimated to be about £2.5 million.

The family ended up going another route with the historical object and got paid just £70,000 that was provided through grants from the British Museum, where it’s now on display.

1. A Genuine Faberge Egg Was Bought for Just $13,000 at a Flea Market

In terms of practicality, gold does not score big points. In the modern world, it’s used in some electronics because it’s a great conductor but historically people had no useful purpose for it. It’s really heavy but also soft so you can’t build much out of it. Instead, it became decorative. It was symbolic of the value it held, like wealth personified. Art, jewelry and other extravagances could be made of gold, even if they had little to no practical value. That led to things like $33 million golden eggs.

The rulers of Russia had a thing for priceless egg decorations back in the day, with many expensive Faberge eggs being created for the Imperial family around the turn of the last century. During the Russian Revolution, many of these eggs went missing.

One such egg vanished in 1922 and didn’t turn up again until it sold at a US auction in 1964 for $2,450. The egg had no history or paperwork so it was just a golden egg and that seemed a reasonable price. 

Fast forward to the early 2000s and the egg is on sale at a Midwestern flea market for the seemingly random price of $13,302. Not so random though – that was the raw value of the gold and jewels in the egg by weight. Meaning it was being sold as scrap. But the man who bought it had an inclination that it was something more and he eventually Googled it.

There are only 50 real Faberge eggs in the world so it’s unlikely anyone would have guessed it was legit. But it was. It sold at auction in 2014 for what was believed to be $33 million.

Throughout most of human history, gold has been one of the most prized substances. People tried to transmute lead into it, it’s been the basis of national economies, and it looks great in jewelry.

Despite its rarity and intrinsic value, gold is hardly the most valuable substance available to us. These ten things will cost you far more than a gram of gold (around $57 in August 2021), and they are inherently more valuable.

10 Caterpillar Fungus

Caterpillar fungus is one of the most aptly-named things on this planet, and all you have to do is look at it to understand why. It’s a fungus that grows from the soil with a wormlike protrusion. Dig that up, and you’ll find a part that looks exactly like a caterpillar. It’s got an even better name in Tibet, where it’s known as yartsa gunbu, or “summer grass, winter worm.”

The reason the fungus looks like a caterpillar is because it actually is a caterpillar. “This caterpillar will bury itself down a couple inches into the soil. Meanwhile, it doesn’t know it, but this fungus is digesting it from within, and then in the spring this … tissue erupts out the head.”

The remaining caterpillar bit is the valuable part, and you can probably guess why. Caterpillar fungus is known as the Viagra of the Himalayas. A 15th century Tibetan medicinal text referred to as “An Ocean of Aphrodisiacal Qualities.”

You may think that a black truffle is the most valuable fungus, but it doesn’t compare to the caterpillar fungus. Black truffles can go for around $1.76 per gram, while the far rarer caterpillar fungus reaches about $110 per gram. That makes it nearly twice as valuable as gold.

9 Iridium

Iridium is one of the rarest elements found in the Earth’s crust. Instead, it is primarily found in meteorites. The extinction of the dinosaurs via a massive impact 65 million years ago was identified via a layer of iridium found in the layers of the Earth.

The metal was first discovered in 1803, and it is silvery-white, though incredibly hard and brittle. It’s the second-densest metal known to exist, and it’s rare (on this planet). Still, it does exist, and it has numerous uses in various industries.

Iridium is prized for its corrosion resistance, making it ideal as a hardening agent for alloys containing platinum. It has other commercial uses that saw its value increase exponentially in the early 2000s. That’s when flat-screen LED televisions were becoming popular, and iridium is a principal component.

Iridium is expensive due to its rarity. Since we can’t mine asteroids (yet), finding it is labor-intensive and costly. Iridium trades for around $6,100 per ounce or around $215 per gram. That makes this scarce metal about 3.75 times more valuable than gold.

8 Rhodium

Depending on market fluctuations, rhodium is often the most expensive metal in the world. It’s a silvery-white metal found in the platinum group of noble metals, and it’s naturally corrosion-resistant and chemically inert. You’ve probably got a little rhodium and didn’t know it, as it’s used as a catalyst in a car’s three-way catalytic converter.

That accounts for about 80% of its use globally, but there’s another use that might come your way. Rhodium’s anti-corrosion properties make it ideal for coating substances like white gold and sterling silver, so there’s a good chance you’ve come in contact with rhodium at one time or another.

Still, the automobile industry is the primary consumer of rhodium, and the need for this rare metal often drives its price up. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rhodium went for around $950 per gram, but it has since cooled a little bit. By mid-August 2021, a single gram of rhodium will set you back around $550.

Another reason for Rhodium’s value is its rarity, as it’s the rarest of the platinum group metals. It can be found in only one part per 200 million in the Earth’s crust. By comparison, gold can be found in around 0.5-5 parts per million, depending on the mining methods used in its extraction.

7 Snake Venom

Most people probably think of snake venom as a bad thing, as it can cause severe injury and/or death. That’s what happens if a deadly snake injects its precious venom into an unsuspecting person. Still, there’s more than one use for snake venom.

Snake venom is needed to make antivenom, and it has other medicinal uses. It can be used as a powerful pain reliever, it can break up blood clots, and reduce blood pressure, so it’s not exactly taken for granted. Harvesting it isn’t exactly easy (snakes have to be “milked”), so it’s an expensive process.

Some snake venom is more valuable than others, and you can probably guess why. The most expensive snake venoms come from the deadliest snakes. The King Cobra’s venom contains a powerful pain reliever, and its venom costs around $153,000 per gallon, or $3,785 per gram.

The Coral Snake, which is the snake with the second-strongest venom (next to the Black Mamba), has venom that costs $4,000 per gram. That makes it just shy of 11 times as valuable as the shiny stuff.

6 Da Hong Pao Tea

You probably didn’t expect to find something like tea on a list, but you’ve probably never heard of Da Hong Pao tea. The Chinese tea is made from the leaves of the Da Hong Pao tree, and the process is stringent in adherence to tradition. It’s also strictly monitored by the Chinese government.

There are only six remaining mother Da Hong Pai trees remaining in the world. They grow on a cliff of the Wuyi Mountain, and they are considered a national treasure. Harvesting and processing the leaves requires seven steps: picking, withering, cooling, making, stir-fry, kneading, and baking.

Da Hong Pao tea is green/brown in color and smells of orchids. It’s said to have a long-lasting aftertaste. Unlike most teas, Da Hong Pai tea can be steeped nine times. It has been used to treat several illnesses, as it contains various compounds that aid in blood circulation.

Because the trees are so rare — there are only six, after all — the price per gram of tea is $1,400, with a pot going for around $10,000. In 2002, 20 grams of Da Hong Pao sold for $28,000. When Nixon opened up relations with China, he was given 200 grams of the stuff. A single gram of this tea costs nearly 25 times what you’d have to pay for a gram of gold.

5 Plutonium

Unless you have a spare DeLorean sitting around with a flux capacitor, odds are, you’ll never come in contact with plutonium. That’s a good thing, seeing as this rare metal is incredibly radioactive. It can accumulate in a person’s bones and is dangerous to handle. Of course, that doesn’t make it worthless, as it’s very valuable.

Because plutonium-239 and 241 are fissile, they can be used to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. This makes plutonium a core element in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. It can be synthesized and often is, as its rarity makes collecting it difficult.

It was first discovered in 1938, but it wasn’t until 1940 that it was synthesized via the Manhattan Project. While it can be (and often is) synthesized, it does occur naturally. It can be found in trace elements of natural uranium-238, but this is rare, as it only occurs when the uranium is exposed to the neutrons emitted by other decaying uranium-238 atoms.

Regardless of how it is obtained, its value is incredibly high. If you’re working in an industry that requires plutonium (and that’s the only reason anyone would want this stuff), you’ll have to spend about $4,000 per gram. That makes it around 70 times more expensive than a gram of gold.

4 Red Diamonds

Gram for gram, diamonds are more valuable than gold. Still, when you think of one of these precious gems, you likely picture the clear variety. Those are considered common in the world of diamonds, with different colored diamonds standing as the truly valuable options.

Red diamonds are scarce, but not just in terms of diamonds; they are the rarest gemstones on the planet. Only about 30 of them are known to exist/have been found, and the majority of them weigh less than half a carat (around 0.1 gram).

Depending on the market conditions, red diamonds have been known to fetch as much as $1 million per carat ($5 million per gram). The largest of these gems sold in 2011 for $8 million, and it was only 5.11 carats in size, making it slightly heavier than a gram of gold.

In contrast to everyone’s favorite shiny metal, red diamonds are 87,719 times more valuable than gold. Granted, this would change if someone dug up thousands of the little gems, but that’s unlikely to happen, as they are ridiculously rare.

3 Californium

Californium is a synthetic element first discovered in 1950. It was named after California because it was created at the University of California Radiation Laboratory. The element has numerous practical applications, and while it is synthesized, the process produces very little, making it relatively costly.

Californium is the most expensive chemical used as a valuable trading commodity. It does occur naturally, but because the most common isotope has a half-life of 2.6 years, it’s not found in any sizable quantity in the Earth’s crust. When it was first produced, only about 5,000 atoms were created with a half-life of 44 minutes.

It’s primarily produced by two labs, the Scientific Center of Atomic Reactors in Russia and the Oak Ridge Atomic Reactors in the U.S. Californium has a variety of uses in various industries. Some isotopes emit neutrons, and this is often used to start up nuclear reactors. It can also be used in certain treatments of brain and cervical cancer.

Because it’s challenging to produce in large quantities, a single gram of Californium sells for around $27 million. The prices do fluctuate, but that’s the average. Californium’s value on the commodities market makes it around 473,684 times more valuable than gold.

2 Francium

Francium was the last element on the Periodic Table that was first discovered in nature. Still, it can be synthesized, which is good because this stuff is so rare it almost doesn’t exist. It has been estimated that there are only ever around 20 to 30 grams of francium in the Earth’s crust at any given time.

It occurs in trace amounts in thorium and uranium, but it has a half-life of only 22 minutes, so it’s constantly decaying. It’s also radioactive and difficult to create through synthesis. The largest sample ever produced or isolated consisted of 300,000 atoms. That may seem like a lot, but it’s still too small to observe.

Because francium is so rare, and because it decays so rapidly, it has no commercial uses. Its only current use is scientific research, though it may prove useful in diagnostic testing for certain types of cancer. Despite its lack of commercial use, its rarity makes it valuable.

The price for a single gram of francium is around $1 billion. That’s a billion dollars for something that vanishes from existence in less than an hour. Still, it has uses in research, so it has value. A single gram of francium will cost 17,543,859 times more than a gram of gold.

1 Antimatter

Antimatter is the stuff of science fiction for most people, but it is real and has been known to exist since the early 20th century. Antimatter is any matter composed of antiparticles of any corresponding particles of ordinary matter. It can be created with particle accelerators, but the problem with antimatter is that whenever it comes into contact with matter, both are annihilated.

It cannot be stored in a normal container, so it must be kept in electric and magnetic fields. There are various methods, but it isn’t easy. The longest anyone was able to store it was 405 days, though efforts are being made to improve on this.

Producing antimatter via a particle accelerator is expensive, and the amount produced is infinitesimally small. It has numerous practical and theoretical applications, including medical imaging and spacecraft propulsion.

Antimatter isn’t exactly a tradable commodity, but NASA has given it a value. In 1999, NASA estimated that a single gram of antihydrogen cost around $62.5 trillion per gram. That’s a ridiculously high number that makes it the most expensive thing known to exist. Compared to gold, antimatter is 1,096,491,228,070 times more valuable.