Episode 111: The Science of Gemstones

Episode 111: The Science of Gemstones

From Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast by Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski

October 9, 2025 · 52 min · Episode 111

About this episode

This episode explores the science behind gemstones and their potential future applications, featuring an interview with gemologist Mubashir Mansoor.

There’s a lot more to gems than just sparkly rocks. While we can’t promise they’ll cleanse bad vibes, we can dive into the incredible science behind them. In this episode, Andrew and Taylor chat with Mubashir Mansoor, a gemologist and PhD candidate in Materials Science at Istanbul Technical University, to uncover the rich past of gemstones and how they are shaping the future. From restoring a man’s sight to a possible future in quantum computing, these crystals hold more secrets than you’d think. We trace the evolution of gem technology, from bamboo rods and coal to high-tech scanners that can spot microscopic flaws and reveal exactly where a gem was mined. Most importantly we discuss how gemologists are looking for help from materials scientists and engineers to help crack the secrets of these sparkly rocks. Diamonds are Forever: The Evolution of the Bionic Eye [ LINK ] This episode is sponsored by the American Ceramics Society Learning Center. Visit ceramics.org/materialism to learn more or use code MATERIALISM to get $100 off your next On-Demand course registration. This Materialism Podcast is sponsored by Materials Today , an Elsevier community dedicated to the creation and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Taylor Sparks, Andrew Falkowski

Guest: Mubashir Mansoor

Topics covered

  • gemstones
  • materials science
  • technology
  • quantum computing

Keywords

  • gemology
  • crystals
  • bionic eye
  • high-tech scanners

Sponsors

American Ceramics Society Learning Center, Materials Today

Mentioned in this episode

Products: bamboo rods, coal, high-tech scanners

Books & works: The Science of Gemstones, PhD

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