The radiance and attraction of diamonds has always held our fascination, and now scientists in Germany and the US have pulled off a coup in the production of the girl’s best friends.

Researchers were trying to simulate the formation of diamonds inside the icy planets Neptune and Uranus. To do this, they put polystyrene and PET under massive pressure (1.5 mn bar) and heat (5,000C). What happened? The process created tiny nanodiamonds like those needed by industry, electronics makers, and medical technology firms for all kinds of applications.

Alchemists of the Middle Ages may have had to deal with the disgusting prospect of hot horse manure in their attempts to artificially produce gold. Nowadays, empty Coke bottles will do for a handful of the most precious of stones – what a time to be alive!