NationStates Jolt Archive

Farmers in Mexico have been given another reason to grow agave, the cactus-like plant used to produce the country's most potent export. In the bar room equivalent of alchemy, scientists have turned shots of tequila into diamonds.

The surprise use for the national tipple emerged when researchers at the National Autonomous University experimented with making ultra-thin films of diamond from organic solutions, such as acetone and ethanol. The mix that worked best, 40% alcohol and 60% water, was similar to the proportions used in tequila.

Luis Miguel Apátiga, a member of the team, brought a bottle of cheap tequila into the lab to see if it could be turned into diamond. When he heated a shot to 800C it vaporised and broke down into its atomic constituents, producing a fine layer of carbon on nearby metal trays.

Close examination of the films at high magnification revealed that the carbon had formed into crystal structures identical to diamond. Each was around one thousandth of a millimetre across.

"It's true that the fact it's tequila has a certain charm. It's a Mexican product and Mexican researchers developed the project, but a businessman can say to me: 'Great, how pretty! But how can I use it?'," Apátiga said. "It would be very difficult to obtain diamonds for a ring."

The researchers plan to make tequila-based diamonds on an industrial scale from 2011, a move that could see agave growing expand beyond the tequila market.

I really can't think of a conversation provoking question here so...

What's the best pun related to either tequila, diamonds or anything remotely related to this ground-breaking news?

Or whatever...

I have sowrn off Tequila forever after a very bad night with a bottle a couple of years ago.

It's worth giving a shot, I suppose. I just hope the scientists involve don't end up in the slammer.

It's worth giving a shot, I suppose. I just hope the scientists involve don't end up in the slammer.

They'll probably just end up half cut, have a little less clarity, slightly off-colour...

Wait -- isn't there a problem with agave shortages already?

Fuck, does this mean Tequila Tuesday is no longer $2 drink?

Wait -- isn't there a problem with agave shortages already?

Apparently so - TMA ("tristeza y muerte de agave") is a blight that has reduced the production of the agave grown to produce tequila. This has resulted in lower production and higher prices throughout the early 2000s, and due to the long maturation of the plant, will likely continue to affect prices for years to come

'Tristeza y muerte de agave' sounds like a line from a poem not a disease

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6amDbAwlY

:)

Apparently so - TMA ("tristeza y muerte de agave") is a blight that has reduced the production of the agave grown to produce tequila. This has resulted in lower production and higher prices throughout the early 2000s, and due to the long maturation of the plant, will likely continue to affect prices for years to come

'Tristeza y muerte de agave' sounds like a line from a poem not a disease

So doesn't that mean that finding another use for it is kind of...I dunno...stupid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H6amDbAwlY

:)

University of Washington fight song!

So doesn't that mean that finding another use for it is kind of...I dunno...stupid?

You'd be fun to have around the laboratory.

University of Washington fight song!

Figures. :p

You'd be fun to have around the laboratory.

Why's that? Isn't this like finding another ubiquitous use for something that's already in short supply? As if someone said "hey! California Condor eggs are a terrific fuel source!"

Unless we can synthesize something that fills the bill, or decide that the bill isn't all that important to fill, shouldn't we worry about sustainability?

Why's that? Isn't this like finding another ubiquitous use for something that's already in short supply? As if someone said "hey! California Condor eggs are a terrific fuel source!"

Unless we can synthesize something that fills the bill, or decide that the bill isn't all that important to fill, shouldn't we worry about sustainability?

I guess... :(

*drinks tequila*

Mix 3 shots of tequila, one can of orange soda (12 oz) add 6 oz of fruit punch, and ice until the blender is full. Blend and enjoy. You can add less liquid and more ice if you want it to be like a slushy.

Mix one shot of tequila with a few dashes of tobasco sauce and shoot.

Two shot glasses full of tequila
Attach to complicated spectacles contraption
Place on eyes
Go to party

Two shot glasses full of tequila
Attach to complicated spectacles contraption
Place on eyes
Go to party

Then you got beer goggles!

What's the best pun related to either tequila, diamonds or anything remotely related to this ground-breaking news?

Or whatever...

Now that's what I call hard liquor!
There you go.

Then you got beer goggles!

Yes, I felt quite silly when someone said 'get your beer goggles on' at university and, feeling left out, I spent quite some time creating my own, wearing them proudly to the next night out.

Apparently it's just an expression :(

Disclaimer: the above story may well be a complete fabrication - geddit? Fabrication...fabricating goggles...anyone?

Now that's what I call hard liquor! There you go.

That's the spirit!

Now that's what I call hard liquor!
There you go.

*Boos, throws tomatoes*

*Boos, throws tomatoes*

Just make sure you keep off the stuff CM. It's bad for you.

*Has flashback of suffering the effects of tequila*

Can't have flashbacks of actually drinking it, I have to rely on the police reports and witness statements.

Tequila's ace, BE. 5 slammers and a couple of pints of snakebite and you'll be set for the night. Good times.

*Boos, throws tomatoes*

Creates Bloody Tequila Mary

Tequila's ace, BE. 5 slammers and a couple of pints of snakebite and you'll be set for the night. Good times.

Yeah I was set for the night. A bottle of tequila later and I was set for the weekend set in bed hunched over a bucket puking my guts up.

I don't touch the stuff anymore, it is evil and while I keep some at home it is to be used on guests only.

I suppose it does lead to good times I am told I enjoyed myself, but I don't remember these good times as I say you have to rely on other things to tell you what you did like the paternity test.

Yeah I was set for the night. A bottle of tequila later and I was set for the weekend set in bed hunched over a bucket puking my guts up.

I don't touch the stuff anymore, it is evil and while I keep some at home it is to be used on guests only.

I suppose it does lead to good times I am told I enjoyed myself, but I don't remember these good times as I say you have to rely on other things to tell you what you did like the paternity test.

I fondly remember a night somewhere in Victoria, they have a peach festival there, where 15 of us were packed into a caravan with tequila, cards and a bag of grass but it's not a drink I'll choose unless forced.

*checks google*

Cobram is the place - it's the Peaches & Cream festival

...and this is the one I went to - http://www.chairpage.com/press_releases/item/268/

I fondly remember a night somewhere in Victoria, they have a peach festival there, where 15 of us were packed into a caravan with tequila, cards and a bag of grass but it's not a drink I'll choose unless forced.

*checks google*

Cobram is the place - it's the Peaches & Cream festival

Mmm Peaches and cream. I should go get some lunch.

Yeah fair enough sounds like you had some fun. I know people enjoy the stuff and drink it. I just had a bad experience one night and have haven't drunk it since except for one Mexican Afterburner.

Tequila... *shudder

So intense. So many good nights.

Yeah I was set for the night. A bottle of tequila later and I was set for the weekend set in bed hunched over a bucket puking my guts up.

Protip: If it's packaged in a shot glass it's for personal consumption. If it's packaged in a bottle over 20 oz. it's usually meant to be shared.

yes, i felt quite silly when someone said 'get your beer goggles on' at university and, feeling left out, i spent quite some time creating my own, wearing them proudly to the next night out.

Apparently it's just an expression :(

disclaimer: The above story may well be a complete fabrication - geddit? Fabrication...fabricating goggles...anyone?



that's the spirit!

boooo bad joke!!!

Protip: If it's packaged in a shot glass it's for personal consumption. If it's packaged in a bottle over 20 oz. it's usually meant to be shared.

But I dont wanna share :p

Yeah perhaps I should have,I remember everybody havine a Tequila Slammer but then I don't remember much else just getting out of bed two mornings later seeing an empty bottle of Tequlia asking why we drunk it all? The reply? You drunk it all, like it was tea.

*Boos, throws tomatoes*

Booze? You throw tomatoes for a pun while unintentionally creating a howler of your own?

I really can't think of a conversation provoking question here so...

What's the best pun related to either tequila, diamonds or anything remotely related to this ground-breaking news?

Or whatever...

Well I work in a jewellery shop so this is pretty interesting. They won't be "quality" because it's not natural or rare. However I wonder what they will be like. Cubic Zirconias can be essentially perfect - white with no inclusions because they're created. I wonder if these "diamonds" (if you can call them that) will be inclusion free? I suppose they would be. Hmmm...

Hmm, I should attempt to do the same using vodka.