A simulated snapshot of crystallizing carbon atoms under Uranus-like conditions. [Credit: L. M. Ghiringhelli, C. Valeriani, E. J. Meijer and D. Frenkel, Physical Review Letters]
Posted on 08/06/2007 7:29:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
A new study finds that diamonds probably don't crystallize in the atmospheres of planets such as Uranus and Neptune. The conclusion is contrary to recent speculation that small diamonds would spontaneously form in carbon rich layers of the gas giant planets. White dwarf stars, according to the study, are veritable diamond factories... at the temperatures and pressures in gas giant planets like Uranus, arrangements of carbon atoms would be much more suitable for creating tiny bits of graphite rather than diamond. In white dwarfs, on the other hand, the simulation shows that the conditions would cause the carbon atoms to line up in configurations that are much more amenable for diamond crystallization. The conclusion is consistent with the 2004 discovery of a cooling white dwarf star that appears to have a solid diamond core 4000 kilometers across. Although diamond formation in the atmospheres of gas giants is not strictly impossible, the Dutch physicists say that the odds are exceedingly slim that a diamond could have formed under the conditions that exist in Uranus in the entire lifetime of the universe.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Diamond Planets: Rich Possibilities for Other Worlds
Science - Space.com | Tue Feb 8,11:21 AM ET | Robert Roy Britt
Posted on 02/08/2005 6:59:42 PM EST by wingblade
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1338975/posts
Astronomers spy 10 billion trillion trillion-carat diamond (Vey Hugh!)
Sac Bee | 2/13/04 | AP - LA
Posted on 02/13/2004 5:33:17 PM EST by NormsRevenge
Edited on 04/12/2004 9:05:42 PM EDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1077730/posts
Diamond star thrills astronomers
Last Updated: Monday, 16 February 2004, 15:31 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3492919.stm
A simulated snapshot of crystallizing carbon atoms under Uranus-like conditions. [Credit: L. M. Ghiringhelli, C. Valeriani, E. J. Meijer and D. Frenkel, Physical Review Letters]
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · | ||
First person who can figure out a way to 1) get to a white dwarf and 2) mine it is going to be rich.
In other words, there's a slim chance of finding a diamond in the roughage...
Well, the quantity is so vast (larger than the Earth itself by orders of magnitude) that the price of diamonds would plummet. Better to find an asteroid hurled out of some diamond-composed body. :’)
One of the most amazing, non-purposefully hilarious, headlines ever. Ever.
And of course, catering to the more-money-than-brains crowd (i.e., the entertainment industry and OPEC billionaires) would help — “a 200 foot yacht built entirely out of diamond? No problem...”
The temptation to edit it into “Diamonds Unlikely In Uranus” was almost too much to resist.
;’)
There are scientists among us
Spending tax money that might just
Be quite enjoyed
To stay employed
By pulling diamonds from Uranus
I either have a new epitath to hurl, verbally, at my enemies, or a new tagline.
“First person who can figure out a way to 1) get to a white dwarf and 2) mine it is going to be rich.”
Not so at all. Supply would totally exceed demand. Diamonds will be a dime, a dozen.
It’s kinda like that “pearls before swine” saying from the Bible, but super-scientific.
Poetry is one of your many facets.
The market will know ahead of time before you dump your first diamond. Do you really think that your trip to outer space went unnoticed?
Though the article states that the core is a solid diamond.
That would be difficult to cut through.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
