Diamonds are forever, but they might not be that rare.
Replicating the diamond rain process
According to Dominik Kraus, a physicist at Germany's HZDR research lab and one of the study's authors, diamond rain is a very different process from regular precipitation on Earth. Kraus and a team replicated this process in the lab using PET plastic, which has the necessary mix of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
"The oxygen that is present in large amounts on those planets really helps suck away the hydrogen atoms from the carbon, so it's actually easier for those diamonds to form," he continued.Their experiment could provide a new method for producing nanodiamonds on Earth. This could be highly valuable, as nanodiamonds have a wide and growing range of applications in drug delivery, medical sensors, non-invasive surgery, and quantum electronics.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Distant Worlds With 'Diamond Rain' May Populate The Universe, Scientists SayIt could be raining diamonds on planets throughout the Universe, scientists suggested Friday, after using common plastic to recreate the strange precipitation believed to form deep inside Uranus and Neptune.
Read more »
Don Lind, shuttle astronaut whose moon mission was canceled, dies at 92Lind waited 19 years to launch into space and flew only once.
Read more »
A Few Storms For Labor Day AfternoonEven though we’ll see some storms this afternoon for Labor Day, it won’t be as intense as the downpours we saw on Saturday. BBQs and pool time should be ok overall with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s! weather kprc2 click2houston houwx laborday
Read more »
Diamond rains could fall through the interior of ice giant planetsDeep with frozen planets like Neptune and Uranus exotic diamond rains could occur more often than previously believed.
Read more »
Artemis launch scrubbed again after another leak issueThe historic Artemis mission launch of NASA's 322-foot Space Launch System rocket was scrubbed once again after a fuel leak reoccurred in the engine section.
Read more »