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U.S. already has the critical minerals it needs, according to new analysis

All the critical minerals the U.S. needs annually for energy, defense and technology applications are already being mined at existing U.S. facilities, according to a new analysis published today in the journal Science. The catch? These minerals, such as cobalt, lithium, gallium and rare earth elements like neodymium and yttrium, are currently being discarded as tailings of other mineral streams like gold and zinc, said Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering at Colorado Scho

NASA's Perseverance rover finds potential signs of ancient life on Mars

NASA just announced that its Perseverance rover recently found some promising signs of ancient life on Mars. The rover obtained a sample of rock formed billions of years ago from sediment and there are biomarkers indicating the potential presence of microbes once upon a time. Basically, the rocks contain minerals that typically form as a result of a chemical reaction between mud and organic matter. That doesn't necessarily mean that Mars once had life, as the minerals can form due to nonbiologi

A Treasure Trove of Key Minerals Is Being Wasted in the U.S., Study Claims

The United States is home to dozens of active mines. Some extract copper, while others dig for iron. Whatever the resource, however, it usually makes up a small fraction of the rock pulled from the ground. The rest is typically ignored. Wasted. “We’re only producing a few commodities,” said Elizabeth Holley, a professor of mining engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. “The question is: What else is in those rocks?” The answer: a lot. In a study published today by the journal Science, Ho

Best Mineral Sunscreen of 2025

CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Sunscreen is an important part of skin care year-round, but especially in the summer, when we tend to be outside more often in more intense sun. Mineral sunscreens (also called physical sunscreens) tend to be a great fit for those with sensitive skin. While chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays, mineral sunscreens reflect the rays u

Scientists Think They Have Found a Brand-New Mineral on Mars

Scientists have a fairly good idea of what Mars’ surface looks like. But exactly what that surface is made up of is more of a mystery. Now, scientists believe they have discovered an entirely new mineral on Mars from an unusual layer of iron sulfate with a distinct spectral signature. In a Nature Communications paper published on August 5, astrobiologists led by Janice Bishop at the SETI Institute describe the discovery of an unusual ferric hydroxysulfate compound around Valles Marineris, a vas

Why Jolly Ranchers Are Banned in the UK but Not the US

On June 11, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an alert declaring several candies manufactured by The Hershey Company “unsafe to eat.” Four products from the flagship Jolly Rancher brand—Hard Candy, “Misfits” Gummies, Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and Berry Gummies—contain mineral oil hydrocarbons, banned from food in the UK. The offending substances are mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH). Both are derived from crude oil and are often use

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Requiem for a Solar Plant

Requiem for a Solar Plant The email landed like a brick through a plate glass window. "...requiring reconductoring of 1.71 miles at a cost of $795,150...limiting output to 3MW..." I stared at my laptop screen, the blue light illuminating the shadows under my eyes in my darkened California living room. Outside, endless February rain tapped against the windows like impatient fingers. My gut churned, a familiar discomfort that had become my constant companion over the past year. This wasn't just