"Super-Diamonds: The Next Hardest Material in the Universe?"

Physicists have used quantum-accurate molecular-dynamics simulations to discover a way to transform diamonds into an even harder material, known as the eight-atom body-centred cubic (BC8) phase, which is 30% more resistant to compression than diamonds. This unusual structure has only been observed in silicon and germanium on Earth, but it is believed to exist in the highly-pressurized environments inside exoplanets. However, attempts to synthesize it have been unsuccessful due to the narrow high-pressure, high-temperature conditions required.