With pressure greater than the force within Earth’s core, two diamonds pressed upon liquid hydrogen and something happened for the first time ever on our planet: the lightest element in the periodic table turned into a small bit of metal. After years of research and experiments, this alchemical creation occurred under the direction of two Harvard physicists—whose paper was published in the journal Science. The …
1. Whales Are Eating Our Trash A recent surge in whale beachings (over 30 cases in Europe so far in 2016) is causing major concern for researchers and marine biologists. Not long ago, a necropsy of a beached whale revealed huge amounts of car parts and plastic waste, including buckets and netting in its stomach. Though the ocean waste may not have been the primary …
An extraordinary 10.10-carat blue diamond broke records yesterday after selling for $31.8 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. The rare gem—which holds the highest classification for colored diamonds called “fancy vivid”—is now the most expensive diamond to have sold in Asia. But behind the massive jewel’s glamorous sparkle hides a dubious history involving a foiled heist attempt, “stone burning,” and more. Head to …
