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Harder-Than-Diamond Natural Carbon Crystals Found
HikingStick tips a piece from the science desk at MSNBC.com about a new, naturally occurring form of carbon found in a meteorite fragment. "Researchers were polishing a slice of the carbon-rich Havero meteorite that fell to Earth in Finland in 1971. When they then studied the polished surface they discovered carbon-loaded spots that were raised well above the rest of the surface — suggesting that these areas were harder than the diamonds used in the polishing paste... [G]raphite layers were shocked and heated enough to create bonds between the layers — which is exactly how humans manufacture diamonds... [The research] team took the next step and put the diamond-resistant crystals under the scrutiny of some very rigorous mineralogical analyzing instruments to learn how its atoms are lined up. That allowed them to confirm that they had, indeed, found a new 'phase' or polymorph of crystalline carbon as well as a type of diamond that had been predicted to exist decades ago, but had never been found in nature until now."
I think it's clear that space-diamonds will have capabilities far outstripping any of our mundane terrestrial diamonds.
And I, for one, welcome our new shiny super tough, space born overlords
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That allowed them to confirm that they had, indeed, found a new 'phase' or polymorph of crystalline carbon as well as a type of diamond that had been predicted to exist decades ago, but had never been found in nature until now.
"Polymorphs of crystalline carbon are forever."
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Now it goes all the way to 11.
Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
So now meteorites are a girl's best friend? That's going to complicate some relationships
If he's the Walrus then can I be a penguin please?
I doubt it, they've not found enough space children caught up in intergalactic warfare to exploit yet.
I move that we start referring to these super hard diamonds as Viagronds.
And I, for one, welcome our new shiny super tough, space born overlords
Not without DeBeers permission, you don't!
Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.