Diamonds may be rare on Earth, but surprisingly common in space — and the super-sensitive infrared eyes of NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope are perfect for scouting them. Using computer simulations, researchers have developed a strategy for finding diamonds in space that are only a nanometer (a billionth of a meter) in size. These gems are about 25,000 times smaller than a grain of sand, much too small for an engagement ring. But astronomers believe that these tiny particles could provide valuable insights into how carbon-rich molecules, the basis of life on Earth, develop in the cosmos.