The US is worried about its critical minerals supply chains – essential for electric vehicles, wind power and the nation's defense

Right now, the nation is almost entirely dependent on other countries for minerals that are used in everything from wind turbines to strike fighters and satellites.

Morgan Bazilian, Professor of Public Policy and Director, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines • conversation
April 6, 2021 ~9 min

Beijing's 'sandstorm' was actually a dust storm – and that's much worse

It was tiny dust that turned the sky orange.

Matt Telfer, Associate Professor of Physical Geography, University of Plymouth • conversation
March 18, 2021 ~5 min


A global semiconductor shortage highlights a troubling trend: A small and shrinking number of the world's computer chips are made in the US

The high cost and long lead times for building computer chip factories makes it difficult for the U.S. to reverse the steady decline of its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

Carol Handwerker, Professor of Materials Engineering, Purdue University • conversation
March 9, 2021 ~5 min

Mars missions from China and UAE are set to go into orbit – here's what they could discover

If China succeeds, it will be the first country ever to visit and land on Mars on its first try.

Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Feb. 5, 2021 ~7 min

How Mars became the prize for the new space race – and why China is hellbent on winning it

India has already managed what China has not.

Steffi Paladini, Reader in Economics & Global Security, Birmingham City University • conversation
Feb. 4, 2021 ~7 min

Travelers coming from Italy may have driven first US COVID-19 wave more than those from China, study suggests

The results from an emerging study suggest governments should act quickly if they plan to impose travel bans – before the virus can spread widely to other countries.

Daniel Simon, Associate Professor of Public Affairs, Indiana University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2021 ~6 min

Do COVID-19 travel bans work? Here's what happened when US restricted travel from China and Italy

Results from an emerging study on the two travel bans suggest that travelers coming from Italy drove the first wave in the U.S. more than those from China, which faced an earlier travel ban.

Daniel Simon, Associate Professor of Public Affairs, Indiana University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2021 ~6 min

COVID-19 misinformation on Chinese social media – lessons for countering conspiracy theories

The type and amount of misinformation closely tracks tensions in US-China relations. Effectively countering the misinformation comes down to who does the debunking.

Kaiping Chen, Assistant Professor of Science Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
Jan. 28, 2021 ~8 min


Scientists suggest US embassies were hit with high-power microwaves – here's how the weapons work

High-power microwave weapons are useful for disabling electronics. They might also be behind the ailments suffered by US diplomats and CIA agents in Cuba and China.

Edl Schamiloglu, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, School of Engineering, University of New Mexico, University of New Mexico • conversation
Dec. 10, 2020 ~8 min

Chang'e 5: China launches sample return mission to the Moon – is it winning the new space race?

Some people are nervous about China's growing capabilities when it comes to space exploration.

John Bridges, Professor of Planetary Science, University of Leicester • conversation
Nov. 23, 2020 ~6 min

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