The world’s largest black diamond “Enigma” was recently sold for almost US$4.3 million. The artificially- cut diamond has 55 facets and weighs 555.55 carats (111 grams). It was shaped to resemble a khamsa, a palm symbol from the Middle East which stands for strength and protection. The word khamsa also means “five” in Arabic.
What makes Enigma special is that it is a natural black diamond, or a carbonado, meaning that it absorbs so much white light that it is much darker than treated or man-made black diamonds. Another interesting aspect of this stone is the possibility that it is from outer space. The seller believes that it may have been from a “diamond-bearing” asteroid that collided with Earth billions of years ago. However, experts regard this claim as dubious and believe it was formed on Earth.
臺灣首位女性導演享嵩壽一百零三歲Taiwan’s First Female Director Dies at 103
Chen Wen-min, a well-known Taiwanese director, died at the age of 103 in Hawaii. Chen Wen-min is known for being the first female director in Taiwan. Born in 1920, she did not start directing until the 1950s, when she and her husband founded the Ta Ming Theater. She did the screenwriting and directing for many of the films they produced or showed in their theater. However, after her husband was injured in a car accident, her family fell into debt and she was forced to give up filmmaking. Her only surviving film is Second Degree. Her films opened the eyes of many to the wonders of cinema, and she will always be remembered as a pioneer.
