How the US can mine its own critical minerals − without digging new holes

Rare earth elements are tiny yet essential parts of many of the technologies you use every day. New techniques are making their recovery from US sources increasingly viable.

Scott McWhorter, Distinguished Fellow in the Strategic Energy Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
May 6, 2025 • ~9 min

What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains

The US has many of the same minerals Ukraine does – but prefers to import them.

Munira Raji, Research Fellow of Geology, University of Plymouth • conversation
March 10, 2025 • ~8 min

War in Ukraine could cut global supply of essential elements for making green technology

Electric vehicle batteries, wind turbine generators and hydrogen fuel cells are among technologies likely to be affected by the conflict.

Gavin Harper, Research Fellow, Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials, University of Birmingham • conversation
March 14, 2022 • ~6 min

Boris Johnson promises a UK offshore wind revolution – but China holds the monopoly on vital 'rare earth' metals

China has a monopoly on rare earth metals, so where will the materials for the UK's wind revolution come from?

Allan Walton, Professor of Critical and Magnetic Materials, University of Birmingham • conversation
Oct. 7, 2020 • ~5 min

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