Scientists find diamond planet

A team of international researchers have discovered a planet that be made largely of diamond. The planet was discovered orbiting a pulsar, a type of small star that rotates rapidly while emitting a regular radio beam, much like a lighthouse. It is the second-ever planet to be discovered orbiting a pulsar. Matthew Bales of the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia led the team of researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Science. They discovered the planet after detecting a slight variation in the radio beams emitting from the pulsar. The irregularity suggested there was planet providing a gravitational pull on the star. Researchers believe the planet is the remains of a massive star that lost 99.9 per cent of its mass. All that remains is the element crystalline, meaning that parts of the planet, which is located 4,000 light years away, may be made of diamond.

CBC News