A planet made of diamond

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This has awesome science fiction epic written all over it:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/ ... 9A20110825

(Reuters) - Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.

The new planet is far denser than any other known so far and consists largely of carbon. Because it is so dense, scientists calculate the carbon must be crystalline, so a large part of this strange world will effectively be diamond.

"The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised of carbon -- i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own Sun," said Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.




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It's worse than that--it's physics, Jim.
"TV makes sense. It has logic, structure, rules, and likeable leading men. In life, we have this. We have you." -Abed Nadir




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Yes, I heard about this. Quite a remarkable find, however diamond isn't really as rare as everybody seems to think it is. Just look a the amount of carbon on this planet! If some cosmic phenomenon suddenly increased pressure and heat on the earth to 27 Kilo-Pascals and 900 degrees Celsius respectively, all the carbon on earth would turn to diamond too.
Also, has anyone seen the Doctor Who episode 'Midnight'? Quite similar.
A lie can run around the world before the truth has got its boots on.
- Terry Pratchett

Si non confectus, non recifiat - If it ain't broken, don't fix it.




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Sounds fascinating. Come 3050, our ancestors will be rushing for the diamond planet. There'll be galactic wars over it for sure. :D
Unless by then we learn how to fabricate diamonds easily. XD
-ж-Ж-ж-




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Oh, I hope it happens in 3049 so folks can call them the '49ers.
I am a forest fire and an ocean, and I will burn you just as much
as I will drown everything you have inside.
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