Research news on Critical mineral supply

Critical mineral supply concerns the identification, extraction, processing, and recycling of materials essential for energy, defense, and high‑technology systems, with particular emphasis on rare earth elements, uranium, lithium, graphite, and related metals. The field examines geological resources, waste and urban mining pathways, nuclear fuel cycle by‑products, and advanced materials development alongside geopolitical dependencies, trade controls, and national strategies. It also addresses supply‑chain vulnerabilities and sustainability constraints that influence low‑carbon energy transitions and long‑term resource security.

Energy & Green Tech

Material composition of cars mapped to assess resource impact

A passenger car contains far more materials than its weight alone would suggest. Beyond the steel and aluminum are small amounts of gold, palladium and molybdenum—elements that can become highly significant when resource ...

Energy & Green Tech

Academics use London Tube map to model options for nuclear fuel cycle

A new review paper from the Dalton Nuclear Institute at The University of Manchester uses a Tube map design to examine how closing the nuclear fuel cycle—recycling and reusing materials from used fuel—improves the sustainability ...

Business

Humanity's race to mimic the stars

For decades, nuclear fusion has been the physicist's dream: abundant, carbon-free power drawn from the same reaction that keeps the sun burning. Now it might be shifting from scientific ambition to industrial reality.

Energy & Green Tech

In US, rare earths extracted from coal mine wastewater

In the Appalachian region stretching through the U.S. state of West Virginia, reddish water flowing out of retired coal mines is acidic, full of heavy metals and toxic to the environment.

page 1 from 9