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Scientists Turn Tequila Into Diamonds
MaxwellEdison writes "Researchers, oddly enough from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, have found a way to make diamond films using tequila. They were originally testing methods of creating the films with organic solutions like acetone when it was noticed the ideal ratios of water and ethanol turned out to be about 80 proof, or 40% alcohol. '"To dissipate any doubts, one morning on the way to the lab I bought a pocket-size bottle of cheap white tequila and we did some tests," Apátiga said. "We were in doubt over whether the great amount of chemicals present in tequila, other than water and ethanol, would contaminate or obstruct the process, it turned out to be not so. The results were amazing, same as with the ethanol and water compound, we obtained almost spherical shaped diamonds of nanometric size. There is no doubt; tequila has the exact proportion of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms necessary to form diamonds."'"
Which is why God invented roofies.
I'm going to hell, aren't I?
It's hard to get 100% pure ethanol because ethanol is hygroscopic. This is part of the problem with using pure ethanol in vehicles (water ends up in your fuel without proper precautions), and why butanol may be a better choice for fuel.
Also, I'm not sure why nobody's mentioned it, but vodka is about the closest you can get to a 60%-40% water/ethanol mixture. Very few if any extra chemicals. Why use tequila instead of vodka?
I claim first use of "Error No. 0B" - or "No. 0B error." It'll be the new ID 10T!
This isn't the first time something like this has been done. Northern Blots involve the detection of RNA bound to a membrane by hybridizing it with a complementary radioactive RNA probe. Two things, to prevent non-specific binding of the probe to the membrane you need to block it with some inert protein. Powdered milk is a cheap convenient source of protein. In order to do they hybridization at a lower temperature, a little alcohol is used.
Anyway, some genius figured that since Bailey's Irish cream contains milk and alcohol, you could use it in your hybridization buffer. Apparently it worked, it's even been used for published results. Generally formamide is used instead of ethanol these days, and the dry milk works just fine. Still, it's a clever way to get your liquor funded by your grant. ;)
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
By law, something called "tequila" has to be 51% blue agave. The remainder can be made up of cheap reducing sugar, with the practical result of producing hangovers.
The good stuff is the 100% blue agave tequila. Unfortunately, since there's been an agave shortage in Mexico, prices have gone up in recent years. You have to pay $20 and up for (750mL) 100% blue agave these days.