Fun Fact - It Rains Diamonds On Jupiter And Saturn

It rains water on the earth. Although we've seen acid rain also. But rain full of diamonds? Yes, it actually rains diamonds on Neptune and Uranus.

Now that I've got your attention, let's start the article. This is another article in the "Fun Facts" series where I share debunk myths and share some really cool and weird kinds of stuff. You can read other articles in this series by going to the following link -

• Fun Facts - Read To Get Surprised.

Diamond

Diamonds are expensive but do you know what they are made up of? The answer is Carbon. Yes, the same Carbon that is present on your pencil as graphite. Are diamonds so rare? This is a myth actually. In fact, diamonds are more commonly available than other gems. Emeralds, rubies and sapphires are found in lesser amounts on the earth than diamonds.

Let's bust another myth in this article. Are diamonds the most valuable gem? Well, this is subjective. People think that diamonds are expensive because they are so rare. But that is just not the case as I explained in the previous paragraph. They are expensive because of the much higher demand for them than other gems.

Diamonds are formed under great pressure and temperature. Under high pressure, carbon atoms form a crystalline structure called diamond lattice. Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring material found on the earth.

Raining diamonds?

There is methane present in the atmosphere of both Jupiter and Saturn. Methane is made up of one carbon and four hydrogen atoms. Lightning converts methane into carbon. It starts in the higher atmospheric area. Carbon atoms then fall freely towards the surface of those planets.

As they move closer to the surface, the pressure increases. They are now turned into graphite. As they become move closer and closer to the surface, the pressure increases rapidly and the graphite is now turned into a diamond. But due to high temperatures on the surface, diamonds stay in the crystalline form for a small amount of time only.

Methane is also present in the atmosphere of Neptunes and Jupiter. And because of lower temperatures on the surface of these two planets, diamonds stay in the crystalline form for a much longer amount of time.

Conclusion

Check out other articles on this blog -

• The pituitary is not the master gland.
• Raees vs Kaabil - Box Office.

Scientists have tested the above phenomenon artificially in the laboratory and they have confirmed it also. You can read about it on Wikipedia.

Just go to Neptune or Jupiter, collect those diamonds and travel back to earth. It does seem like a viable business plan. So when are you starting to build a rocket? You are planning to go to one of these planets, right?