Discovery of 'Super-Diamond' Material Promises Revolution in Materials Science

Advanced supercomputer simulations predict a carbon phase harder than diamond, sparking efforts to synthesize it in the lab.

Supercomputers have modeled a theoretical 'super-diamond' material, BC8, which is predicted to be 30% more resistant to compression than diamond.
The BC8 phase could potentially exist in carbon-rich exoplanets and may be synthesized in laboratory conditions in the future.
Advanced simulations and experimental efforts are ongoing to synthesize the BC8 phase at the National Ignition Facility.
BC8 carbon is expected to be stable at ambient conditions and could revolutionize materials science with its superior hardness.
The discovery of BC8 opens new possibilities for understanding the properties of carbon in extreme conditions and developing new materials.