![]() 55 Cancri e has about twice the diameter of the Earth and a mass that is probably greater than eight times our Earth’s. How can 55 Cancri e be made primarily of diamond? As we introduced, scientists are able to hypothesize that since the star the planet orbits so closely emits such a high carbon signature, the planet must have a very high carbon percentage in comparison to its oxygen percentage in its makeup. One carat of diamond has a width of about six millimeters and is worth somewhere around $1400. The carat system is used to determine the size. When cut right, they sparkle vibrantly and also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. People adorn themselves with diamond jewelry, especially wedding rings. Natural diamonds and considered expensive treasures. They are the strongest material on our Earth and they are extremely rare. When graphite is highly compressed for long periods of time, like underground, deep within the Earth, it forms diamond.ĭiamonds are made of carbon. It is brittle and has a grey, metallic look. ![]() Graphite is sometimes used as pencil lead. ![]() When a lot of carbon is together in a big clump, it is known as graphite. Graphene is used in many different applications, including being used a semi-conductors and membranes for separating chemicals. Thin, one atom thick sheet layers of carbon are known as graphene layers. Carbon can bond to itself and form hexagon rings through covalent bonding and interspersion forces. It is the basis of all organic molecules in our body and without it, life on our planet would not exist. This article will seek to explain some of the science behind this reasoning.įirst, let’s discuss what diamonds are made of. This leads scientists to hypothesize that the planet could be composed of diamond. It has been hypothesized that the inner-most planet orbiting this star, 55 Cancri e, could have an extremely high concentration of carbon in its composition. Further testing showed that while there was more oxygen present in the star than previously thought, the star still has a much higher concentration of carbon than our sun. In one such solar system, about 40 light-years away from our own, scientists have discovered a sun that gives off chemical readings with a very high carbon to oxygen ratio. Because of this, scientists can make educated guesses about solar systems outside our own. ![]() Scientists use telescopes, such as Spitzer Space Telescope, to capture images of these far away planets and read these chemical signatures that are given off through color and texture. Stars give off certain chemical signatures that can be measured by teams of researchers here on Earth. While space exploration is not yet a completely realizable venture, scientists from NASA are able to discover stars and their solar systems light years away from our own. ![]()
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