Slacker’s Syllabus: Lab-created diamonds

A close-up of a hand holding a lab-created diamond
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Historically, we’ve satisfied our lust for diamonds by mining them. But diamond mining has earned a bad rep.

Diamond mining exacts a heavy human toll

Diamonds have fueled civil wars in Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, and other African countries. Diamond companies have displaced Indigenous people and others who live near mines. Workers, including children, often face hazardous — and sometimes deadly — conditions.

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