TIL: It Rains Diamonds on Jupiter and Saturn
Space has always been a very interesting subject for us, mainly because of the awe that it inspires in terms of its vastness and incomprehensible nature. It keeps surprising us at every corner of the way and even with all our technological advances, we only understand about 4% of it.
Every now and then we discover something that leaves us with more questions than answers and at some other times we discover something that we couldn’t possibly have ever imagined.
One such thing has been speculated heavily about the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, two of the biggest planets of our solar system. Scientists believe that atmospheric conditions on these planets are such that they could, in all probability, facilitate the formation of diamonds.
We all know that diamonds require highly compressed and heated conditions to form, which is why they are formed very deep inside our planet. In the case of Jupiter and Saturn, there is an enormous gravity, owing to their sizes. Also, other conditions like a presence of methane, carbon and lightning in the planets’ atmosphere can lead to the formation of diamonds that are at least 1 centimetre in diameter but could just as easily reach larger sizes.
Since this formation is being done in the atmosphere, they fall down due to their heavier weight and it seems like it rains diamonds. Scientists calculate that more than 1,000 tons of diamonds is being created every year on Saturn.
It may sound like a magical place and a woman’s dream world, but rest assured, there is nothing more lethal than diamonds falling from the sky. Who knows some day we will be able to collect this diamond and bring it home. Space mining could one day be a reality.
Very nice read. Thanks for the content.
My pleasure :)
I'm ready. let's go.
haha! we will need just a little more than an umbrella ;)
Stunning insight. I love it.
thanks :D
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I see that being a reality someday, in a future far, far away! ;)
Heh, there goes the diamond market. Newsflash, diamonds are more common than coal!
I can imagine that being the headline in the year 2500 A.D. ;)
Never knew that:) I imagine it would be painful in theory. Then again there would be worse things to worry about on such large planets like crushing gravity which would squash us before we got to that point.
haha yeah!! One other concern would be finding solid ground to put our feet on as these are gaseous planets!
Yes although I heard that in the centre of Jupiter there might be solid (metallic) hydrogen. So you might eventually hit something solid.
Yeah, it's quite interesting what may lie in the centre. There are just too many questions!! Drives me nuts! :D
The intense pressure would also make it impossible for even a machine to collect them. Good input.
very true. I guess we will at some point develop materials that maybe able to withstand it, maybe?
Good point! Would any material be able to stand up to it?
Diamonds are the girls best friend. Let's go to Jupiter ;-)
Soon my friend.... soon!! ;)
Ok, im off to Jupiter mate...
Take me with you. Need a kilo or two of diamonds right now! haha
Kilo? I'm planning to take some trucks with me
Ok then I would like to rent 5 trucks for the job please!
Throw a couple of kilos here ;)
sure, after "and if" we come back ;)
I believe in you.....
very interesting, thanks for sharing! didn't know that!
yeah, it's pretty cool!
Where do you have that from?