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Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

January Geology media highlights

Research on submarine displacement rates reveals some of the highest strike-slip rates on Earth, with implications for plate boundary deformation. Volcanic ice-slurry flows are also studied, showing extreme mobility and hazards at snow-capped volcanoes, with insights into their kinematic properties.

New process promises bigger, better diamond crystals

Researchers at Carnegie Institution develop new technique to improve diamond properties, producing single-crystal diamonds with controlled compositions and few defects. The method, called chemical vapor deposition, allows for rapid growth of diamonds at low pressure, enhancing optical clarity.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Zooming way in, technique offers close-ups of electrons, nuclei

Physicists have developed a novel way of spying on electrons and atomic nuclei using diamond-based magnetic imaging, enabling nanoscale spatial resolution. This technique has potential applications in fields such as materials science, spintronics, and biomedicine.

Diamond conference at the Goethe University

The 9th International Kimberlite Conference at the Goethe University Frankfurt explores the science of diamonds, their inclusions, and their significance for geoscientists. The conference features over 500 participants from 37 countries, with a focus on basic scientific research, diamond production, and industry.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Tiny pieces of 'deep time' brought to the surface

Researchers found three-billion-year-old zircon microcrystals in northern Ontario with an incredible 200-million-year growth span. The crystals provide a new record of planetary evolution and contradict previous theories about their behavior when exposed to heat and pressure.

Smithsonian researcher probes Hope Diamond's fiery red glow

A recent study by Smithsonian researchers reveals that natural blue diamonds exhibit phosphorescence with components of both blue and red light. The study's findings provide a unique 'fingerprint' for individual blue diamonds, enabling scientists to identify them.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Hope Diamond's phosphorescence key to fingerprinting

A team of researchers from Penn State, Naval Research Laboratory, and Smithsonian Institution used spectroscopic analysis to determine that all blue diamonds have a red phosphorescent component. This unique property allows for the identification of individual blue diamonds, distinguishing them from synthetic or altered stones.

A crystal that nature may have missed

A mathematical analysis of the diamond's microscopic structure reveals its special properties, including maximal symmetry and strong isotropic property. The K4 crystal, sharing these properties, has sparked curiosity about its potential existence in nature or synthesis.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Heavier hydrogen on the atomic scale reduces friction

A recent study reveals that coating diamond surfaces with heavier hydrogen isotopes can significantly reduce friction forces. The research, led by Argonne scientist Anirudha Sumant, used single-crystal diamond surfaces coated with layers of atomic or deuterium to investigate the effect on surface vibrations.

Liquid CO2 drives rapid thrust of diamond-bearing structures

A new integrated theory of kimberlite formation invokes a leading wedge of fluid carbon dioxide to explain the survival of diamonds during ascent. The theory suggests that the rapid expansion and cooling of magma near the surface creates an equilibrium pressure, driving the rock upward at speeds of up to 5000 km/h.

UCLA scientists design new super-hard material

Researchers at UCLA have designed a new super-hard material called rhenium diboride, which is as incompressible as diamond but can be made without high-pressure conditions. This material has the potential to replace some industrial applications of diamond and cubic boron nitride.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

'Origami lens' slims high resolution cameras

Researchers at UC San Diego have created an 'origami lens' that folds the telephoto lens, enabling the creation of ultrathin, high-resolution miniature cameras. This technology addresses performance issues in cell phone cameras and may be used for unmanned surveillance aircraft, infrared night vision, and other applications.

Carnegie and its inventors awarded new patent for diamond work

The Carnegie Institution has been granted a patent for the manufacture of hard, single-crystal diamonds through a Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPCVD) process. The inventors' work has led to diamonds with increased hardness and enhanced optical characteristics.

Diamond technology to revolutionize mobile communications

Researchers develop diamond resonators and oscillators for next-generation telecommunication devices, enabling higher data communication rates. The UNCD material exhibits exceptional mechanical properties, allowing for reliable and affordable production of tuning fork devices.

Diamond by-product of hydrogen production and storage method

Lueking's group inadvertently stumbled upon a method that combines hydrogen production and storage, producing nanocrystalline diamonds as a by-product. The researchers used ball milling to mix anthracite coal with cyclohexene, resulting in the formation of Bucky diamonds.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Kalashnikovs and marginalised youth in Sierra Leone

Research found lack of training and employment led to violent uprising, while reintegration projects struggled to find work for newly-trained ex-soldiers. Millions spent on vocational training, but many ended up working for subsistence wages in mines.

Livermore researchers shed light on physical properties of carbon

Researchers from Livermore have determined the phase boundaries for carbon at pressures up to 20 million atmospheres and temperatures over 10,000 degrees Kelvin. The study provides results on the physical properties of carbon, essential for devising models of Neptune, Uranus, and white dwarf stars.

UC Santa Barbara researchers light up 'dark' spins in diamond

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have successfully detected and studied 'dark' spins in diamond, a significant breakthrough in the development of room temperature quantum computing. The discovery could enable networks of spins to process information at the atomic level.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Rensselaer researchers create tiny magnetic diamonds on the nanoscale

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a technique to make magnetic diamond particles, which could find use in medicine and information technology. The tiny magnets have several advantages over metal counterparts, including being lightweight, stable, simple to process, and less expensive.

Argonne researchers create new diamond-nanotube composite material

The novel material combines diamond's hardness with nanotubes' strength, offering potential applications in wear-resistant coatings, fuel cells, and electronic devices. The researchers developed a process to synthesize the material at the nanoscale, paving the way for fundamental advances in nanostructured carbon materials.

Tough new probe developed for nanotechnologists

Scientists from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory have created a new type of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe made from ultra-nano-crystalline diamond, exhibiting properties similar to single-crystal diamond. The development enables improved durability and scalability for high-resolution imaging.

Very large diamonds produced very fast

Scientists have successfully produced 10-carat, half-inch thick single-crystal diamonds at a rapid growth rate of 100 micrometers per hour using CVD. This achievement is approximately five times that of commercially available diamonds and marks a major breakthrough in diamond production.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Chinese used diamonds to polish sapphire-rich stone in 2500 BC

Researchers have discovered that ancient Chinese craftsmen used diamond to polish sapphire-rich stones around 2500 BC, creating a mirror-like luster on the axes. The find sheds new light on the origins of Neolithic artifacts in China and challenges current understanding of prehistoric polishing techniques.

Tiny tools carve glass

Researchers create miniature drills and end mills using microelectro discharge machining to produce smooth, curly chips of glass or ceramic. The process can take as long as an hour to produce one dimple a half millimeter in diameter, but is faster than photolithography.

Scaling friction down to the nano/micro realm

Researchers at NIST created a new technique to measure friction accurately in the nano- and micro-scale. The method helps designers produce more durable devices with moving parts by accounting for unintended scratching of surfaces.

Large diamonds made from gas are the hardest yet

Researchers at Carnegie Institution grow synthetic brilliant cut single-crystal diamonds with ultrahigh pressures, breaking measuring equipment. The crystals are up to 50% harder than conventional diamonds, offering a breakthrough in materials science.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Chemistry puts new sparkle in diamonds

Companies like Gemesis and Apollo Diamond are creating lab-grown diamonds over a carat in size that match mined counterparts in terms of chemical and physical properties. Additionally, colored diamonds can be created by introducing controlled elemental impurities, such as nitrogen for yellow stones or boron for blue gems.

New material breakthrough: Super-hard graphite cracks diamond

Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory have created a super-hard form of graphite that can rival diamond in strength. The new material was made by subjecting graphite to extreme pressures and studying its atomic structure using high-intensity X-rays.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Diamond layer makes steel rock hard

Researchers created diamond layers on steel by using a chromium nitride intermediate layer to prevent carbon penetration and graphite formation. The technique resulted in good-quality diamond layers on certain types of tool steel.

Diamonds have oceanic origin, says University of Toronto geologist

A University of Toronto geologist claims that diamonds originated on the ocean floor, supported by a new study published in Nature. The research reveals that diamond formation begins when lava is pushed onto the ocean floor, interacting with sea water to alter its oxygen composition.

Diamond in the rough...and on the chip

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a stable, DNA-modified diamond film that can detect biological molecules with high accuracy. The sensor, which is about the size of a postage stamp, has the potential to be used in early warning systems for defense against biological weapons.

Diamond film may enable critical new sensors for bioterror

Researchers at UW-Madison developed a novel diamond film that can be used as a stable platform for biological sensing. The films have proven to be remarkably durable and can withstand multiple cycles of processing DNA, making them suitable for continuous monitoring in high-risk environments.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Scientist wins award for high-pressure research

Lee's research found that zeolites expand as fluid from the surrounding medium is squeezed into their tiny pores under great pressure, leading to potential applications as 'molecular sponges'. The discovery was made possible by using a technique called powder diffraction at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source.

Researchers develop methods to characterize diamonds

Scientists have developed new methods to characterize diamonds, allowing them to link the stones' properties to their mine of origin. This study aims to shed light on plate tectonics, the Earth's formation, and processes deep in the Earth.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Keblinski receives prestigious NSF award

Keblinski's research on polycrystalline diamonds reveals surprising strength and potential for designing stronger, less brittle materials. His work has implications for ceramics in turbines and other applications.

Mirror, mirror on the ball...

The Starshine Satellite Project involves students from Pakistan, New Zealand, Brazil, and India polishing thousands of mirrors to help calibrate The Fence, the Navy's space surveillance network. Once launched, students will be able to track the satellite's movement as it passes across the skies.

Clues to early history of Solar System's oldest diamonds

Researchers study presolar diamond grains found in meteorites and simulate implantation of ions to test mechanism. The results reveal a bimodal release of noble gases with different temperatures, suggesting at least two events involved in the introduction of xenon.

Earthquakes reveal diamonds' origins

By analyzing seismic waves, scientists have mapped the physical properties of the earth below, identifying regions with seismically fast mantle that produce gem-quality diamonds. This discovery could aid in locating new diamond mines by targeting areas with similar characteristics.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Diamonds made of

A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.

Upping The Pressure

Scientists have developed techniques to directly image the deformation of materials like diamond under ultrahigh pressures, showing that it can bend without failing. The results suggest ways to improve high-pressure techniques and reveal enhanced material strength at extreme pressures.