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Massive Diamond Found Orbiting Pulsar

Posted by timothy on from the think-of-the-street-value-of-this-mountain dept.

HairyNevus writes "A recent survey of pulsars has revealed a fascinating discovery of a millisecond pulsar in system PSR J17191438 that has stripped a nearby white dwarf star down to its very core. Although no longer visible, is still has the mass of Jupiter. The remaining core rotates its neutron star companion with a period of just under 2 hours, indicating extremely close proximity. Given this distance, scientists have calculated that the substance of the core must be very compact, and, without building up the point, they conclude it is made of diamond. One thing I found misleading about the article is that it refers to the core as having 'the size of Jupiter' and 'the mass of Jupiter.' Given their different densities (diamond vs. mostly helium), it would seem clear that their size (i.e. volume) differs."

8 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. damn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now my wife will want it

    1. Re:damn by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Funny

      Too bad, DeBeers already bought it. Gotta keep those diamonds out of the wrong hands.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  2. Obligatory by Ironchew · · Score: 4, Funny

    These planets are a diamond dozen.

  3. Time for a renaming... by Zephyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    We've just got to name the pulsar "Lucy" now.

  4. Re:Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by newcastlejon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perhaps the parent meant on Earth, but that's also wrong, or perhaps they meant just the crust... nope, still wrong. Or maybe it's the entire Universe? Nope, distant fourth.

    Care to enlighten us Kenja?

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  5. Ooohhhh!! by jamiesan · · Score: 4, Funny

    PSR J1719-1438 went to Jared.

  6. Re:Diamonds are not rare, not even on Earth. by idontgno · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet he meant that carbon is the most abundant element in diamonds. That's pretty much true.

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  7. Re:This isn't diamond the way you're thinking by LordLimecat · · Score: 3, Funny

    I imagine it would *catastrophically* decompress if you could teleport a chunk of it back to earth

    I imagine people would pay to see that; I know I would.