Reach for the Stars: Diamond hunting in space? Dream on

(The Republican) - While here on Earth raindrops lit by sunlight may sparkle like diamonds, it seems likely that on Saturn and Jupiter it really does rain diamonds. After analyzing data on these planets this was the conclusion of Mona Delitsky, of California Specialty Engineering, and Kevin Baines, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. On Earth diamonds form naturally about 100 miles below the planet's surface when carbon is heated to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit under pressure of about 725 pounds per square inch. Volcanic magma then brings the molten diamond quickly to the surface, allowing it to cool down and form the precious stone used to make fine jewelry the world over. However, on Saturn and Jupiter the process is somewhat different.