Critical minerals are mineral commodities identified as essential for advanced technologies and economic or national security functions, and which face elevated risk of supply disruption due to geological scarcity, concentrated production, geopolitical constraints, or complex value chains. Scientifically, they are defined not by intrinsic geochemical properties but by their role in enabling key materials systems, such as high-performance magnets, battery chemistries, catalysts, semiconductors, and specialized alloys. Research on critical minerals emphasizes ore genesis, mineral processing, substitution strategies, recycling, life-cycle assessment, and supply-risk modeling to ensure resilient access to these inputs for low-carbon energy systems, defense applications, and advanced manufacturing.
New research from a team at Trinity College Dublin has unearthed a cheap and environmentally friendly new option for removing pollutants from our water. The key? Oyster shells that would ordinarily end up in landfill sites ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 26, 2026
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33
A clean energy future hinges on minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements. But the race to secure them puts pressure on the places where they are mined. With some supply and processing concentrated ...
Environment
Mar 6, 2026
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27
The Trump administration's drive to increase domestic production of fossil fuels and mining of key minerals likely cannot be accomplished without a key constituency: Native nations.
Environment
Feb 11, 2026
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15
At the recent World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney proclaimed "a rupture" in the global "rules-based order" and a turn to great power rivalry.
Environment
Feb 7, 2026
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38
The Trump administration, with the support of many congressional Republicans, is looking to boost deep-sea mining as a way to counter Chinese dominance of critical minerals supply chains.
Environment
Jan 28, 2026
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20
Mining companies worldwide are expanding mineral extraction at existing mines, as the rate of opening new sites slows, to meet global demand driven mainly by the need for clean energy infrastructure.
Environment
Jan 22, 2026
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21
The US is saber-rattling over Greenland once again. The vast island's natural resources are back on the agenda, a year after then-US national security advisor Michael Waltz announced: "This is about critical minerals. This ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 12, 2026
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30
As Europe seeks to curb its dependence on China for rare earths, plans to mine the continent's biggest deposit have hit a roadblock over fears that mining operations could harm endangered beetles, mosses and mushrooms.
Ecology
Dec 20, 2025
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130
Cradled in the nose of a high-altitude research airplane, a new NASA sensor has taken to the skies to help geoscientists map rocks hosting lithium and other critical minerals on Earth's surface some 60,000 feet below. In ...
Planetary Sciences
Dec 9, 2025
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26
There is high global demand for critical metals, and many countries want to try extracting these sought-after metals from the seabed. An international study, which has discovered large numbers of new species at a depth of ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 5, 2025
6
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