New Substance Is Harder Than Diamond, Scientists Say

This stuff seems pretty amazing I can`t wait to see what they can make with it.

Researchers at North Carolina State University say they have developed a technique for creating a substance they are calling Q-carbon, which represents a third phase, or distinct form, of carbon alongside graphite and diamond.
The process of creating Q-carbon — which involves concentrating a very short pulse of laser light onto carbon — can produce minuscule synthetic diamond “seeds,” which can yield gems.


While the amount of diamond is tiny compared with the yield of traditional industrial techniques, the process can be carried out at room temperature and air pressure, the researchers say, meaning it could be easier to reproduce on a large scale than other methods, including one that has been drawing interest in Silicon Valley known as chemical vapor deposition.

and here`s the amazing thing about it:

But Mr. Narayan and his colleagues say the potential for creating synthetic gemstones pales next to possible applications of Q-carbon, which the researchers said is magnetic, fluorescent and electroconductive.

It sounds like something out of science fiction or mythology, magnetic,flourescent,electroconductive crystals that are harder than diamonds.
The potential uses for this could be pretty astounding.

www.nytimes.com...

Always wanted a sword with a diamond tipped blade, seems like it will be even more possible than before

a reply to: Tardacus

I'd like an armoured car made of these please.

No more scratches. Ever.

S&F for the find!

a reply to: Tardacus

But Mr. Narayan and his colleagues say the potential for creating synthetic gemstones pales next to possible applications of Q-carbon, which the researchers said is magnetic, fluorescent and electroconductive.

Sounds so UFO backengineeringish

I`m thinking that they might be able to use this stuff, in some way, for space technology.

I wonder if it could be used in some type of new propulsion system?

it`s a crystal so you could send light through it, like fiber optics, but it also is super hard and electroconductive as well as magnetic.
It will probably be decades before they find some awesome new way to use this stuff, but it`s fun to think about the possibilities.

a reply to: SeaWorthy
That`s the first thing I thought too while I was reading the story!

The possibilities are endless if this is cost effective as OP points out. Being man made I would think so! Is there any chance this will be a way to pull carbon out of our atmosphere as well maybe...probably not just curious. I imagine there are a lot of things we can do with Diamonds but it is to expensive no? I always thought the pyramids having a Diamond top at some point. Think of the lighting effects and the effects to worshiping the sun.

its basically like folding metal, cooling it and folding it again but with carbon at the atomic scale.

very impressive to say the least. atomic forging, soon we will make synthetic gold and other elements hopefully

a reply to: randomthoughts12

No. Diamonds are cheap. Very common. Jewelry is expensive. It is a controlled and contrived market. Many gems are more rare than diamonds.


www.gemsociety.org...

Tthe first and best use for something harder tham diamonds, as mentioned in the above link, would be to cut and polish diamonds.

originally posted by: Tardacus
This stuff seems pretty amazing I can`t wait to see what they can make with it.

Researchers at North Carolina State University say they have developed a technique for creating a substance they are calling Q-carbon, which represents a third phase, or distinct form, of carbon alongside graphite and diamond.
The process of creating Q-carbon — which involves concentrating a very short pulse of laser light onto carbon — can produce minuscule synthetic diamond “seeds,” which can yield gems.


While the amount of diamond is tiny compared with the yield of traditional industrial techniques, the process can be carried out at room temperature and air pressure, the researchers say, meaning it could be easier to reproduce on a large scale than other methods, including one that has been drawing interest in Silicon Valley known as chemical vapor deposition.

and here`s the amazing thing about it:

But Mr. Narayan and his colleagues say the potential for creating synthetic gemstones pales next to possible applications of Q-carbon, which the researchers said is magnetic, fluorescent and electroconductive.

It sounds like something out of science fiction or mythology, magnetic,flourescent,electroconductive crystals that are harder than diamonds.
The potential uses for this could be pretty astounding.

www.nytimes.com...

Sounds good alright, perhaps a high albedo, must be harder than carbon steel, along with Graphene, maybe harder even and conductive as well. I can picture all sorts of uses, probably good and bad.

This video is silent but on the Youtube page there is a written lengthy discourse on it's properties as well as possible uses.

a reply to: smurfy

Nice, thanks for that video.

Well, with the properties it has, I feel they will weaponize this new crystal.

What Donald Trump's head?

a reply to: Tardacus

Where does it say/claim that its harder than diamond? besides in your headline.

a reply to: Curious69

Try clicking the source some time, otherwise you could just be drinking a steaming mug of bs.

From my understanding of chemistry "the only formal is high school" the difference between diamond and graphite is the structure the atoms are arranged within itself. Does the 200 nanosecond burst rearrange the atomic structure or is their "quenching" an analogy of metallurgical quenching and works in the same way?

Magnetic, fluorescent, and electro conductive; the possibilities are endless as to what this new stone can achieve.

Anyways, on the humorous side, I got a new one for cold days, my nips are hard as Q-Carbon.

a reply to: swanne

You really must improve your driving and probably your reversing needs a little more practise (I shall run for cover now).
Sounds a brilliant coating and if you could improve on some magnetic impulse drivingtravel possibilities etc.

My first thought for this though was towards possibilities for space travel but the applications could range through so much and everyday things such as nail polish, frying pans through silicon valley, even submersibles for the ocean and out into space travel, fascinating virtually anything.

a reply to: Tardacus

What is this stuff like kryptonite? adamantium? LOVE IT

to bump this thread I'll venture the guess that the substance is Viagra. Ha, the spell checker automatically capitalized it, so it's not a common term for that whole class of drugs yet? Like Xerox (ha, spell checker capitalized that too). Anyway, thread bumped. A very interesting topic and thread, thanks for bringing this to ATS's attention. Things like this are the main reasons I come here, ATS is a storehouse of science, space, ancient civ and other topics aside from its rep as a conspiracy site. The conspiracy I care about is how popular culture has been shaped by "kick them off the Island/house/family/housewife-gathering territory" so-called reality shows, which is more of a money-maker for the networks and corporate sponsors (or sponsirs) than an old-fashioned who-done-it conspiracy.

originally posted by: rickymouse
Well, with the properties it has, I feel they will weaponize this new crystal.

Rail gun projectiles since its magnetic and conductive. Shoot even the rails could b e made of it.