Researchers at Yale have discovered that a previously unknown planet is comprised of diamond.<\/p>\n
The planet, 55 Cancri e<\/em>, was discovered in late 2011, and assumed to have the same chemical makeup to that of Earth – although closer inspection shows otherwise.<\/p>\n From mass and radius measurements, and “computing all possible combinations of elements and compounds”, it\u2019s become known that 55 Cancri e<\/em> consists primarily of carbon in the form of graphite and diamond.<\/p>\n One-third of the planet is estimated to be diamond, with the entire radius being twice the size of Earth\u2019s, and a mass eight times greater.<\/p>\n The surface of the planet is estimated at around 2149 degrees Celsius which, combined with pressure over time, would make a suitable environment for diamonds.<\/p>\n Curiosity finds plastic on Mars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n NASA mulls moon-based space station<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Older Mars rover makes startling discovery<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nSource: Space.com<\/a><\/h5>\n
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