Scientists believe that a third of its mass could be pure diamond.
There are more attractive discoveries than others. Thanks to their super-powerful space telescope, NASA astronomers have spotted a new planet with an incredible composition. Called “55 Cancri E”, this planet is a “super-terre”, which means that it is 8 times more massive than the earth, but that it is mainly rocky. What makes it so unique is its chemical composition: it is incredibly rich in carbon and very low in oxygen, which means that under pressure and extreme temperature reigning in its interior, carbon is transformed into a crystal shape, diamond.
Scientists believe that a third of its mass could be pure diamond and the rest of the graphite, another form of carbon, that of our pencil mines. On the other hand, its atmosphere, if it exists, would be very dense and potentially toxic, mainly composed of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, therefore unlivable. And despite its “diamond” nature, this planet is also a hell of warmth, with surface temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius, because it is extremely close to its star.
So, can we one day take advantage of this extraterrestrial wealth? The answer is, according to our current technologies, a categorical “no”. The main obstacle is the insurmountable distance for the moment. This diamond planet is around 40 light years from our solar system. To give you an idea, a light year represents the distance of light in a year, almost 9,461 billion kilometers. Suffice to say that it is a colossal distance, even for the fastest spacecraft. And even if we developed vessels capable of traveling to a significant fraction of the speed of light, the journey would take decades. In addition, the extreme conditions on its surface make any direct exploration or extraction of unthinkable materials with our current technologies.
The discovery of this planet is above all a major scientific advance which helps us to better understand the diversity of exoplanets and the planetary training processes, thus expanding our conception of the universe. For the time being, the diamonds of “55 cancri e” will remain celestial treasures, shiny only in the amazed gaze of astronomers.
