A $25 Bonus: The Remarkable Story of H Tracy Hall and the Invention of the Synthetic Diamond

TL;DR

H. Tracy Hall, working at General Electric, invented a makeshift apparatus that successfully created synthetic diamonds in 1954.

Transcript

As you may know, naturally created diamonds are formed from carbon subjected to extreme pressure (725,000 pounds per square inch or so) and heat (1,650 to 2,370 °F) some 90-120 miles down. The world’s natural diamond supply (that has come to the surface) was formed in this way some 1-3 billion years ago. However, scientists only realized that diamo... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Synthetic diamonds were first created in 1954 by H. Tracy Hall, who worked at General Electric.
• 😀 Hall's invention initially faced skepticism and lack of support from his colleagues, but he eventually succeeded in creating synthetic diamonds using a modified apparatus.
• ♦️ The invention of synthetic diamonds had significant implications for the diamond industry, providing a cheaper alternative to natural diamonds.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did H. Tracy Hall's childhood fascination with Thomas Edison influence his career choice?

As a child, H. Tracy Hall was inspired by Thomas Edison and made it his goal to work for Edison's company, General Electric, which eventually led him to his position where he invented synthetic diamonds.

Q: What challenges did H. Tracy Hall face while working on his invention at General Electric?

Hall faced obstacles such as lack of funding and support from his colleagues at General Electric, who believed that the project required a new and expensive press machine.

Q: How did H. Tracy Hall invent the tetrahedral press, and why did he need it?

After being prohibited from working on his original invention due to a secrecy order, Hall invented the tetrahedral press to evade the restrictions. This alternative machine achieved the same result as his original invention but did not violate the gag order.

Q: What were the consequences of H. Tracy Hall's invention of synthetic diamonds?

Hall's invention revolutionized the diamond industry by providing an alternative to natural diamonds. It also led to his co-founding of the successful synthetic diamond company, MegaDiamond.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• H. Tracy Hall, the inventor of synthetic diamonds, was born in Ogden, Utah, and grew up on a farm.

• Hall joined General Electric in Schenectady, New York, to work on "Project Superpressure," a project aimed at creating synthetic diamonds.

• Despite initial skepticism and lack of support from his colleagues, Hall successfully created synthetic diamonds using his own modified apparatus.