Re:Lab-grown diamonds threaten viability of the real gems
by hdkrgr on Friday March 09, 2018 @10:49AM
(#16552529)
More on the latter point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-background_steel
The same effect was also used in understanding brain development by looking at Carbon isotopes in brains of people born before WW2 to determine which cells were formed when.
Re:Lab-grown diamonds threaten viability of the real gems
by LMYahooTFY on Friday March 09, 2018 @11:07AM
(#16552677)
That's fascinating to me, I didn't realize anthropogenic radiation levels were significant enough to offer a control for molecular examination of human brains in the general population.
It's almost a bit unnerving.
Re:Lab-grown diamonds threaten viability of the real gems
by jacobolus on Friday March 09, 2018 @12:33PM
(#16553326)
It’s not “radiation levels” per se. Nuclear bomb testing in the mid 20th century dramatically increased the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere, which has subsequently been gradually declining. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-14#Origin
Re:Lab-grown diamonds threaten viability of the real gems
by intrasight on Friday March 09, 2018 @12:28PM
(#16553263)
Yeah, I recall reading that a couple years ago. Indeed a fascinating topic.
On the topic of found vs made materials: I’ve read that shipwrecks are getting mined as a source of steel because it’s more or less impossible to make new steel that isn’t contaminated by trace amounts of radiation from 20th century nuclear testing. While not a problem for skyscrapers, certain lab equipment requires the relatively more rare variety of found steel.