But planets circling stars with higher carbon ratios tend to be carbon-rich themselves and under the right conditions that carbon can become diamond. To test their theory, researchers subjected a sample of silicon carbide immersed in water to intense pressure and heat using lasers and X-ray measurements. As expected, the silicon carbide converted into diamond and silica. A sample - in this case silicon carbide immersed in water - is then loaded between the flat surfaces of the diamond and compressed under high pressure. In 2012, astronomers reported an exoplanet orbiting the star 55 Cancri A was likely composed of diamonds and graphite.

Source: Daily Mail September 14, 2020 22:35 UTC