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August 2013 Lithosphere concentrates on China, the Himalaya, India, and North America

Researchers studied China's Qinling and Tibetan Plateau orogens, finding evidence of late-stage foreland growth. In India, scientists proposed a cost-effective method for locating diamonds using geological, geochemical, and geochronological data. Additionally, a Middle Paleozoic continental arc was identified in southern China, providi...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateJul 31, 2013

Thin-film diamonds

Researchers at Advanced Diamond Technologies successfully created thin films of boron-doped diamond at low temperatures, potentially enabling a wider range of applications for electronic devices. The new method expands the possibilities for depositing high-quality diamond coatings without damaging sensitive electronics.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 3, 2013

WSU researchers create superconductor from solvent

Researchers at Washington State University have created a superconductor capable of transmitting electrical current with zero resistance. By compressing carbon disulfide under high pressure and cooling it to near absolute zero, they achieved a material that exhibits properties like magnetism and superhardness.

SourceWashington State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 1, 2013

Diamonds, nanotubes find common ground in graphene

Scientists at Rice University and Honda Research Institute have created a hybrid material that combines diamonds, nanotubes, and graphene for superior thermal management. The researchers successfully grew vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on diamond using graphene as a middleman, demonstrating its potential as a heat sink.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 28, 2013

Use of laser light yields versatile manipulation of a quantum bit

Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have successfully manipulated a quantum bit using laser light, enabling more unified and versatile control than conventional methods. This breakthrough opens up the possibility of exploring new solid-state quantum systems and potentially leading to the creation of more efficient quantum computers.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 1, 2013

For pre-teens, kindness may be key to popularity

Research published in PLOS ONE found that kids who perform acts of kindness are happier and find greater acceptance among their peers. Kind acts, such as giving someone lunch or visiting a pleasant place, increased children's well-being and improved their relationships with classmates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 26, 2012

High-pressure science gets super-sized

Scientists have developed a way to generate super-high pressures without using shock waves, allowing them to study materials at conditions corresponding to the core of gas giant planets. This breakthrough could lead to new revelations about how the Earth evolved and how iron functions at extremes.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2012

Nearby super-Earth likely a diamond planet

Astronomers have identified a super-Earth called 55 Cancri e as a likely diamond planet, composed primarily of carbon in the form of graphite and diamond. The planet's mass is eight times greater than Earth's, and it orbits its star at hyper speed, with a surface temperature of about 3,900 degrees Fahrenheit.

SourceYale University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 11, 2012

New form of carbon observed

Scientists at Carnegie Institution have observed a new form of very hard carbon clusters that are unusual in their mix of crystalline and disordered structure. These clusters can indent diamond, indicating they are superhard, and their unique structure has potential applications for various uses.

Quantum computing, no cooling required

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully created room-temperature quantum bits that can store information for nearly two seconds. This achievement is a significant step towards building a functional quantum computer and opens up new possibilities for various applications such as quantum cash and secure communications.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateJul 3, 2012

It's the network!

Researchers at Northwestern University develop a new theory of networks, establishing relationships between disparate topics such as friendship paradoxes and material properties. The study reveals that cascading processes can be controlled and collective behavior depends on network properties, opening new avenues for disease treatment ...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPhysics Today·DateApr 18, 2012

Progress in quantum computing, qubit by qubit

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully controlled the rate of photon emission from luminescent imperfections in diamond, a crucial step towards developing scalable quantum networks. The breakthrough uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to emit red photons at room temperature.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 9, 2011

'The Dish' finds a 'diamond planet'

A team of astronomers using CSIRO's radio telescope discovered a small planet made of diamond orbiting an unusual star called PSR J1719-1438. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of binary systems and the formation of 'diamond planets', which are thought to be composed of crystalline material.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2011

Diamonds shine in quantum networks

Researchers at the University of Calgary have successfully created a node in a quantum network using impurities in diamonds. Impurities in diamonds can be used to store information encoded onto their quantum state, which can be controlled and read out using light.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 26, 2011

Impact hypothesis loses its sparkle

A team of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis has found no evidence of nanodiamonds, a key component of the YD impact hypothesis, in sedimentary deposits dating to the Younger Dryas period. The discovery suggests that the catastrophic event thought to have killed off North American megafauna may not have occurred.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 30, 2010

Scientists' work improves odds of finding diamonds

Researchers have made a breakthrough in finding diamonds, discovering that kimberlites owe their origin to hot mantle plumes rising from the core-mantle boundary. This new understanding will help geologists concentrate their search for diamond-bearing rocks within ancient cratons, increasing the odds of finding precious gems.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature·DateJul 14, 2010

Search for the bridge to the quantum world

Physicists have proposed a transition from quantum to classical world through decoherence, an evolutionary process similar to Charles Darwin's natural selection. The research uses advanced scanning gate microscopy to measure scars in quantum dots, providing insight into the bridge between the two realms.

SourceArizona State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2010