Human ashes into diamonds

Algordanza, a company based in Switzerland, is transforming human ashes into diamonds, Business Insider reported.

A raw diamond created from human ashes (Algordanza)

According to the report, diamonds are essentially just pressurized carbon atoms. “Since diamonds are made of carbon and the human body is roughly 18 percent carbon, it is possible to transform human ashes into diamonds,” it said.

“It’s possible to separate out the carbon from the other elements in the ashes. These carbon atoms can be used to mimic the natural diamond-making process in the lab,” according to the report.

Algordanza said at least 500 g of ashes are required for the process to work.

The cost of making such a gemstone ranges from $4,000-$5,000 per half carat.

By Lee Shin-young, Intern reporter (sylee@heraldcorp.com)