Synthetic diamond is diamond produced in a technological process, as opposed to natural diamond which is created in geological processes. Numerous claims of diamond synthesis were documented between 1879 and 1928; every attempt has been carefully analyzed and none has been confirmed. In the 1940s, systematic research began in the United States, Sweden and the Soviet Union to grow diamond using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and high-pressure high-temperature synthesis (HPHT) processes. The first reproducible synthesis was reported around 1953. Those two processes still dominate the production of synthetic diamond. The properties of synthetic diamond depend on the details of the manufacturing processes, and can be inferior or superior to those of natural diamond; the hardness, thermal conductivity and electron mobility are superior in some synthetic diamonds. Consequently, synthetic diamond is widely used in abrasives, cutting and polishing tools and in heat sinks. Electronic applications of synthetic diamond are being developed, including high-power switches at power stations, high-frequency field-effect transistors and light-emitting diodes. Both CVD and HPHT diamonds can be cut into gems and various colors can be produced: clear white, yellow, brown, blue, green and orange.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_diamond

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1708:

Having burned down in the 1666 Great Fire of London, the rebuilt St Paul's Cathedral was completed on the 76th birthday of its architect, Christopher Wren. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral

1740:

Per the terms of the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, Maria Theresa assumed the throne of the Habsburg Monarchy in Austria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Theresa_of_Austria

1818:

The United Kingdom and the United States signed the Treaty of 1818, which settled the Canada – United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_1818

1827:

An allied British, French, and Russian naval force destroyed a combined Turkish and Egyptian fleet at the Battle of Navarino, a decisive moment in the Greek War of Independence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Navarino

1967:

Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin filmed an unidentified subject at Six Rivers National Forest in California who they claimed was a bigfoot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterson-Gimlin_film

1973:

Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Queen of Australia, formally opened the Sydney Opera House on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

stage whisper (n): (theater) A line that is performed on stage as if it were whispered, but is spoken loud enough that the audience can hear http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stage_whisper

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

We're overdue for a dream come true.

Long time nothing new. We're overdue for a dream come true. --Tom Petty http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tom_Petty