South Korean Scientists Develop a Fast and Affordable Method to Produce Diamonds

A view of the main 51.38-carat round-cut diamond, the Dynasty, among other gems from Russian diamond miner Alrosas Dynasty polished diamonds collection in Moscow on Aug. 3, 2017. Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images

South Korean scientists say they have developed a new method that creates high-quality synthetic diamonds in just three hours.

Scientists from South Korea’s Institute for Basic Science (IBS) published a study in the scientific journal Nature at the end of April about the development of a method involving liquid metal in a graphite crucible with methane (CH4) and hydrogen gas (H2) at 1,025 degrees Celsius (1,877 Fahrenheit) and atmospheric pressure to produce diamond crystals. The study garnered 14,000 views and coverage from nearly 70 media outlets, ranking highly in scientific reports.