It all starts with researchers’ desire to understand the phenomena that occur on Neptune and Uranus. During an experiment, nanodiamonds were formed… out of plastic.
according to Futura Sciencean international team of researchers succeeded in Turn a plastic bottle into a diamond. However, this experience should not call into question the value of real diamonds.
unexpected result
It may seem strange to us, but this experiment was never intended to make diamonds, but its purpose Understand the phenomena that can occurUranus and Neptune, blue planets.The team of scientists, led by researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany, began their experiment based on the theory It rains diamonds on these two planets.
The extreme conditions of these two planets would be the origin of the creation of these two planets. Then the team decided to recreate what is happening on these two stars in the lab. Then the creation of a real diamond was unexpected. It is not uncommon for researchers to do unexpected discoveries in scientific experiments.
complex process
To reproduce this, the researchers used PET film, a plastic used to make bottles, which has the peculiarity of having the same properties as the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune: Same composition, similar oxygen.
Then, to reproduce the planetary conditions, the researchers directed a laser beam at the plastic, until it reached 6000 degrees and an extreme pressure level. This allowed the nanodiamond to form.
This discovery could facilitate the future creation of these nanodiamonds, these tiny gemstones used in the manufacture of abrasives or even medical contrast products. Real diamonds will stay always expensive, Because this experiment does not make it possible to create similar experiments.
