General Explanation:
Transmutation is the process of transforming one chemical element into another by changing the number of protons in an atomic nucleus. This transformation alters the fundamental identity of the element and has been historically associated with concepts like alchemy. In modern contexts, transmutation is studied for its practical and scientific applications, such as energy production and material transformation.
Technical Explanation:
Transmutation involves nuclear processes where the atomic nucleus undergoes a change in its proton count, leading to the formation of a different element. In contemporary research, this process is explored under technologies like Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR), which leverage many-body, collective electroweak interactions. These interactions occur under moderate conditions, such as in electrochemical cells, enabling high rates of nuclear transmutation. LENR offers potential advancements in clean energy and material sciences by achieving nuclear transformations without the need for extreme temperatures or pressures typical of traditional nuclear reactions.