What is Diamond Rain and How’s Like on Icy Giant Planets Like Uranus and Neptune?

Diamond rain may be falling from giant ice planets, and scientists believe that the generation of nanodiamonds on Earth might increase.

Recent research on our planet shows an abundance of diamonds showering down on frigid planets like Uranus and Neptune. They may even suggest a new method of creating microscopic nanodiamonds for use on our planet.

Read out below about how ambitious the scientists are about this diamond rain.

It Rains Diamonds and Could Be a Huge Deal For Us

Using a new substance more akin to the chemistry found on ice giants, scientists from the US, Germany, and France came across something intriguing. This mysterious substance turns out to be a kind of PET plastic used in store-bought bottles, not all unique.

Basically, quantities of oxygen that weren’t present in the prior studies were introduced due to the plastic’s more realistic chemical composition.

The effect of the oxygen was to accelerate the splitting of the carbon and hydrogen and thus encourage the formation of nanodiamonds; […] the carbon atoms could combine more easily and form diamonds, stated Dominik Kraus, a physicist and professor in Germany’s University of Rostock.

So, the real atmosphere on frozen gas giants’ planets has more oxygen, which equals more diamonds!

That’s why scientists believe diamonds formed by circumstances on Uranus or Neptune may weigh millions of carats. Could you imagine that?

FACT: the world’s record for a diamond is little more than 3,100 carats.

There may be a thick diamond layer atop the planets’ cores; who knows?

But, more research is planned to adjust the chemistry involved to establish a more precise understanding of how diamond rain develops and the mechanisms that make the jewels out of thin or thick air.

Obviously, it will be some time before it is practical to go mega diamond prospecting on other planets, but the research may bring insights into new methods of producing nanodiamonds.