# What is the most useless type of matter? (If there is a type of matter that is useless...) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198 "2015-12-23T18:34:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheNerdiestNerdAlive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@TheNerdiestNerdAlive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerdiestNerdAlive)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/1 "2015-12-23T18:34:46Z")
What is the most useful and useless atom, element, type of matter, etc. that you can think of? (The answer will probably be debatable so this is opinion oriented) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/2 "2015-12-23T18:36:43Z")
Fruitcake? Reported for forum change, as this is an opinion question. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/3 "2015-12-23T18:58:34Z")
Useful: Carbon Useless: Ununoctium ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/4 "2015-12-23T19:16:50Z")
**Moderator Action** > [@TheNerdiestNerdAlive](#): > > (The answer will probably be debatable so this is opinion oriented) We happen to have a forum that is opinion oriented, coincidentally named In My Humble Opinion. Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/5 "2015-12-23T19:50:42Z")
For states of matter this should be moved back to GQ because the correct, peer-reviewed answer is: #1 Plasma #2 Solid > [@](#): > > Solids are so super great that we actually use them as a synonym for “super great”. “He’s a solid dude”, we say. Solids combine the thrill of a liquid’s tangibility with the frisson of a consistent shape that even plasmas can’t offer. #3 Liquid #4 Gas > [@](#): > > Easily misplaced and often annoyingly invisible, at its core a gas is just a liquid someone failed to properly pressurize. > **[Dinosaur Comics!](https://qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2917)** > > that last sentence is a great way to end any essay. and comic, i guess?? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/6 "2015-12-23T19:56:14Z")
Is Plutonium even considered an element anymore? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/7 "2015-12-23T19:59:00Z")
[Francium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francium)’s got to be up there as one of the most useless non-synthetic / transuranic elements. There is no known isotope with any usable lifespan - max is 22 mins. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/8 "2015-12-23T20:47:45Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Is Plutonium even considered an element anymore? > > 😃 ??? I may be whooshed…but why wouldn’t it be? ETA: Oh! I get it now! Good one, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/9 "2015-12-23T20:49:02Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > [Francium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francium)’s got to be up there as one of the most useless non-synthetic / transuranic elements. There is no known isotope with any usable lifespan - max is 22 mins. If it were renamed Freedomium it might toughen up. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/10 "2015-12-23T22:01:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Is Plutonium even considered an element anymore? > > 😃 It’s a dwarf element, or a Plutonioid. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/11 "2015-12-23T22:42:58Z")
My grey matter is pretty useless. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/12 "2015-12-24T04:01:41Z")
Dark matter is totally useless. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/13 "2015-12-24T04:05:17Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Dark matter is totally useless. I disagree. #DarkMatterMatters ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/14 "2015-12-24T04:17:45Z")
“It just doesn’t matter!” – Tripper, _Meatballs_ ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/15 "2015-12-25T08:15:30Z")
“Hakuna Matata” - Timon and Pumbaa ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/16 "2015-12-25T13:17:46Z")
How can it be useless? it’s right there in the name that it matters. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/17 "2015-12-26T00:47:27Z")
> [@TheNerdiestNerdAlive](#): > > What is the most useful and useless atom, element, type of matter, etc. that you can think of? (The answer will probably be debatable so this is opinion oriented) Whatever it is that politicians are made of. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/18 "2015-12-26T01:22:46Z")
Are there any biological or technological uses for radon? (Aside from supporting the radon detector industry…) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-useless-type-of-matter-if-there-is-a-type-of-matter-that-is-useless/741198/19 "2015-12-26T13:50:14Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Whatever it is that politicians are made of. Bullshitium. Except for Trump, of course; he’s pure whackogen.