Auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has unveiled a diamond that’s literally from out of this world.
Sotheby’s calls the 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space — “The Enigma.” The rare gem was shown off on Monday to journalists as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles before it is due to be auctioned off in February in London.
Sotheby’s expects the diamond to be sold for at least 5 million British pounds ($6.8 million). The auction house plans to accept cryptocurrency as a possible payment as well.
Sophie Stevens, a jewelry specialist at Sotheby’s Dubai, told The Associated Press that the number five bears an importance significance to the diamond, which has 55 facets as well.
“The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection,” she said. Khamsa in Arabic means five.
“So there’s a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond," she added.
Stevens also said the black diamond is likely from outer space.
“With the carbonado diamonds, we believe that they were formed through extraterrestrial origins, with meteorites colliding with the Earth and either forming chemical vapor disposition or indeed coming from the meteorites themselves,” she said.
Black diamonds, also known as carbonado, are extremely rare, and are found naturally only in Brazil and Central Africa. The cosmic origin theory is based on their carbon isotopes and high hydrogen content.
NASA is partnering with an unlikely organization for one of its newest experiments ー The Michael J. Fox Foundation. NASA is planning on growing crystals out of the proteins that are likely connected to Parkinson's disease. Sarah Lewin, associate editor at Space.com, told Cheddar that growing the crystals in space will give scientists more information on the proteins and hopefully lead to a breakthrough in curing Parkinson's.
The burgeoning sport of drone racing is about to go autonomous. The professional Drone Racing League is preparing to launch a circuit for A.I. drones to compete against one another ー and, eventually, against human-controlled drones. Nicholas Horbaczewski, the founder and CEO of the DRL, previewed the new circuit in an interview on Cheddar Wednesday.
Tony Steuer, author of "Get Ready!,' spoke with Cheddar about his best tips on making a financial first-aid kit in the case of emergencies.
A new dog owner can expect to spend more than $14,000 over the course of their pet's life ー and that's just for routine care. Kelsey Sheehy, a staff writer for NerdWallet, broke down the high cost of owning a pet in an interview on Cheddar Wednesday.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018.
The California wildfires continue to devastate neighborhoods and towns in its path, and many celebrities have been the victim of these relentless fires. Elizabeth Wagmeister, co-host Page Six TV and Senior Correspondent at Variety, joined Cheddar to discuss how celebrities have been reacting and how individuals are giving back.
Six months after giving birth to a baby boy, former American Idol Jordin Sparks is re-introducing fitness into her daily routine. The "No Air" singer shared her tips with Cheddar on Tuesday for getting motivated to get in shape post-baby.
When Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer co-founded Socialfly in 2011 as an agency for the social media age, Instagram was in its infancy. Today, Instagram is joining the burgeoning field of social commerce, which is changing the way people shop online. But there's a lot to know before you jump in. Cartin told Cheddar what she tells her clients who are looking to build an e-commerce store using Instagram.
E-cigarette maker Juul announced new concessions to limit rampant teen vaping on Tuesday ー including pulling certain products from stores and abandoning social media feeds ー in the face of increasing pressure from the FDA and anti-smoking groups.
Trendy beverage maker Dirty Lemon may have halted production of its CBD-infused drink due to legal concerns, but CEO Zak Normandin insisted the company isn't otherwise slowing down or playing it safe. Rather, it is working to expand the brand's physical presence and develop new products.
