Out there in space, is a planet orbiting a distant star. Scientists say that about one third of this planet, larger than earth, could be made of diamonds. The planet is called 55 Cancri e and it is about forty light years away. The planet passes across the face of the star during each orbit and during each pass, the planet blocks a fraction of the starlight streaming toward earth. Analyses from the light from the parent star suggest that its composition, as well as the planets, is carbon-rich and oxygen-poor. Instead of accumulating water, it probably accumulated other light materials, such as carbon and silicon.
The core of 55 Cancri e might be made of iron, just like the Earth's; but the outer layers could be a mixture of carbon, silicates, and silicon carbide. The the very high pressure inside the planet, and maybe on the surface, much of the carbon could be diamond. In fact, diamond could account for up to one-third of the planet's weight.
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/a-diamond-planet/
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