Li Zhang (Carnegie) reports on the synthesis of optically transparent, mesoporous, monolithic diamond from periodic mesoporous carbon CMK-8 at a pressure of 21 GPa. These findings point toward a highly mechanically and chemically stable ultra-hard mesoporous material. Zhang is the lead author of the article "Catalyst-free synthesis of transparent, mesoporous diamond monoliths from periodic mesoporous carbon CMK-8", which was published in August in in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. [L. Zhang et al., 107, 13593-13596 (2010). Li Zhang (Carnegie) reports on the synthesis of optically transparent, mesoporous, monolithic diamond from periodic mesoporous carbon CMK-8 at a pressure of 21 GPa. These findings point toward a highly mechanically and chemically stable ultra-hard mesoporous material. Zhang is the lead author of the article "Catalyst-free synthesis of transparent, mesoporous diamond monoliths from periodic mesoporous carbon CMK-8", which was published in August in in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. [L. Zhang et al., 107, 13593-13596 (2010).