Diamond bigger than Earth found orbiting pulsar

**Xei** · 08-26-2011 02:43 AM

Astronomers discover diamond-like planet in the sky - Telegraph

This is fucking ridiculous. I actually found it hilarious for some reason... it's mind bending and beautiful.

Anyway, for anybody who's interested, I've declared it to be mine and I'm putting it on eBay tonight. Delivery not included.

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 08-26-2011 03:39 AM

/inb4 some lame rapper uses it as a medallion for his big ass necklace

**Spartiate** · 08-26-2011 03:44 AM

I read elsewhere that they only came to this conclusion because if the planet was a gas giant, it would be destroyed by the neutron star, which is highly speculative... Interesting nonetheless.

**tommo** · 08-26-2011 01:56 PM

Well, space travel is gonna advance a whole lot quicker now....

Yeah I read that this could be possible a few months ago.
So strange that they find it now.

Anyway, for anybody who's interested, I've declared it to be mine and I'm putting it on eBay tonight. Delivery not included.

I'm pretty sure finders keepers still applies in space.

**nina** · 08-26-2011 02:44 PM

I remember watching a Discovery show where it was hypothesized that Neptune and Uranus could have oceans of diamond. They had a hard time trying to figure out how we would get to these hypothetical diamonds though.

Diamond Oceans Possible on Uranus, Neptune : Discovery News

**Ne-yo** · 08-26-2011 04:22 PM

I love the opening sentence.

Originally Posted by quote

Astronomers have discovered a planet in our universe that is up to five times the size of Earth and is made almost entirely of diamond.

That part they could've left out as if people need to know that the discovery was made in "our universe" and not the adjacent universe. :p Nevertheless, it's a pretty cool story.

**tommo** · 08-26-2011 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

I love the opening sentence.

That part they could've left out as if people need to know that the discovery was made in "our universe" and not the adjacent universe. :p Nevertheless, it's a pretty cool story.

LMFAO!

Didn't even see that. Wtf? lol

**cmind** · 08-26-2011 05:10 PM

Other than some interesting optical properties, what's so great about diamonds?

**Marm** · 08-26-2011 05:35 PM

^physical properties duh

**tommo** · 08-26-2011 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by ThePieMan

^physical properties duh

Yeah, I was gonna say that lol
They're just like the strongest natural substance lol

**Marm** · 08-26-2011 05:41 PM

^due to strong covalent bonding between its carbon atoms.

**tommo** · 08-26-2011 05:46 PM

^ Due to being put under massive pressure for a long time.

**Marm** · 08-26-2011 05:51 PM

There you go cmind, there are plenty of interesting stuff regarding diamonds.

**khh** · 08-26-2011 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by cmind

Other than some interesting optical properties, what's so great about diamonds?

They're great for when you've screwed something up with your relationship.

**Marm** · 08-26-2011 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by khh

They're great for when you've screwed something up with your relationship.

If you can afford it.

**Solarflare** · 08-26-2011 06:58 PM

diamonds look cool

**cmind** · 08-26-2011 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by ThePieMan

There you go cmind, there are plenty of interesting stuff regarding diamonds.

Don't you think any civilization capable of reaching this "planet" would also have the ability to manufacture diamonds at will?

**Marm** · 08-26-2011 09:08 PM

^I bet these guys can do it.

**Sound** · 08-26-2011 09:16 PM

^Some diamonds (about 0.1% of them) are also good semiconductors, which can be used to make faster computers, or something...

**tommo** · 08-27-2011 02:48 AM

Originally Posted by cmind

Don't you think any civilization capable of reaching this "planet" would also have the ability to manufacture diamonds at will?

We have that ability. It's called HPHT Diamond. The only difference between them and normal diamonds is that they are perfect. Whereas normal diamonds have imperfections.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 08-27-2011 03:10 AM

I was reading this at work, earlier. Pretty cool stuff.

I work with my ex g/f, and was like "Hey, astronomers found a diamond bigger than Earth, out there in our galaxy." Of course, her eyes lit up, and she said "...so....can we (people) go get it?!" Lol.

**nina** · 08-27-2011 03:38 AM

Silly girls.

What's so great about diamonds...I mean...as jewelry. I never understood it. I understand that they're incredibly hard and sparkly, but it seems their worth lies in clever marketing campaigns. I prefer colored gemstones like Larimar (looks like the ocean), Seraphinite (looks like angel wings), etc. But every girl I know is obsessed with diamonds.

**Darkmatters** · 08-27-2011 04:06 AM

So, if we do discover a massive source for diamonds in space and manage to get them home, would their value as jewelry just evaporate? Isn't it largely due to their scarcity?

Though I suppose their popularity would remain in vogue for a long time, just because we're so used to thinking of them as valuable.

**greenhavoc** · 08-27-2011 04:28 AM

This is evolution in progress!
It was originally green cheese - It has slowly evolved in to what we now know as Diamond.
Who knows what it will be next - Obviously it will keep on evolving! (he he he)

Pg 2
Kind of funny.

**Wayfaerer** · 08-27-2011 08:08 AM

This is pretty cool, I read it was discovered with the Lovell radio telescope in the UK and one of the Keck telescopes in Hawaii. I think they figured out the planets density and distance from the pulsar (thus it's chemical make up) from regular modulations in the pulsars radio beams.

Diamonds are so hard because of their cubic lattice structure, attached by covalent bonds. They are very beautiful but I agree with nina, I think they can be a bit over rated given that there are many other rock and mineral formations with awesome colors and patterns that are just as if not more cool looking lol.