A powerful laser turned diamond into a mirror, and helped solve a 20-year-old mystery about its melting point

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Scientists precisely determined diamond's melting point using powerful ultraviolet lasers. This experiment resolved a twenty-year scientific disagreement about diamond's behavior. The new measurements show diamond melts over 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit lower than earlier studies. These findings align experimental results with theoretical predictions for matter under extreme conditions. The research aids understanding of nuclear fusion and planetary interiors.