Researchers found tiny salt crystals in an asteroid sample, indicating the presence of liquid water. The discovery challenges previous assumptions that ordinary chondrite asteroids lack hydrated minerals.
A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for domestic cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt, which hosts the second largest known domestic resource of critical mineral cobalt. The researchers conclude that the ore from Idaho should be divided and processed for copper and cobalt separately to meet growing demand.
A previously unidentified marine reptile fossil from Svalbard has been classified using X-ray analysis, providing unique insights into ancient life in the Norwegian archipelago. The study's findings suggest that fossils from this formation are particularly well-suited for radiographic imaging due to the presence of sulfur minerals.
A new study published in Geology concludes that an extinct volcano off the shore of Portugal could store as much as 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to ~24-125 years of the country's industrial emissions.
A machine learning model uses patterns in mineral associations to predict previously unknown mineral occurrences, including geologically important minerals like uraninite and rutherfordine. The model also identified promising areas for critical rare earth element and lithium minerals.
Researchers have discovered that extremophilic bacteria from high-temperature marine environments can be used to remove iron, silicon, and magnesium from asbestos minerals, reducing their toxicity. This finding has the potential to develop new methods for detoxifying and reusing asbestos as a secondary raw material.
Researchers found that golden fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale are primarily made up of phosphate minerals, hinting at the presence of oxygen in the environment. The discovery suggests that oxygen played a crucial role in driving chemical reactions needed for fossilization.
Researchers have developed a method to extract valuable metals from old mining waste using microbes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%. This process also captures carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in the tailings as new minerals.
A team of scientists, led by University of South Florida professor Matthew Pasek, discovered a new phosphorus material in a fulgurite created by a lightning strike. The material is transitional between space minerals and those found on Earth, and its formation could have implications for our understanding of high-energy events.
The increasing adoption of electric vehicles will significantly raise the global demand for battery-grade critical metals, leading to supply chain disruptions. By mid-century, the need for lithium could more than double, while nickel demand is expected to eclipse other critical metals.
The West Virginia University researchers will develop and advance a pioneering method to extract and separate rare earth elements from acid mine drainage and coal waste with the new funding. The project aims to create employment in regions of West Virginia impacted by the US transition away from fossil fuels.
Scientists measured and compared amino acid abundances with rocky components of Ryugu particles, demonstrating water's role in their formation. The results suggest more ice was present in the precursor of one particle than the other, which may have contributed to the high abundance of a specific amino acid.
Researchers at Heidelberg University developed new methods to detect biogenic carbon in zircon minerals, which can preserve traces of life hundreds of millions of years old. The study's findings open up new possibilities for research into the Earth's early period, where fossils and sediments are scarce.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are developing a new mining technology that uses CO2 to weaken rock containing critical minerals, reducing energy needed for mining. The goal is to make mining carbon negative by storing more carbon than produced.
Researchers have overturned the traditional view that oxygen derives from water splitting, instead finding that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced at mineral-water interfaces are a key source of oxygen. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolution of Earth's atmosphere and the habitability of early life.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a model to predict a planet's interior water capacity based on its size and host star chemistry. The results suggest that larger planets may have drier rocky mantles, while smaller ones could hold more water-rich minerals.
Researchers explore biotechnologies that use microbes to extract rare minerals and fuels from wastewater. This innovation has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing previously unused resources.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have developed a new process that can capture carbon dioxide equivalent to planting a forest the size of Germany. The method involves crushing rocks in CO2 gas, which releases trapped carbon dioxide, providing a low-carbon solution for hard-to-decarbonize industries.
The Inflation Reduction Act's target for domestic EV battery mineral extraction is achievable for some plug-in hybrid vehicles but poses significant challenges for fully electric vehicles. A mass-based standard could reduce uncertainty and incentivize production of high-value minerals domestically.
Researchers propose a new mechanism for solid-gas carbonate formation during Martian dust activities, which could remove significant quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere and store it over geological timescales.
Researchers have found that relatively oxidized fluids fed Earth's earliest hydrothermal systems, which may have supported prebiotic organic synthesis. The discovery provides new insights into the geochemistry of these ancient systems and their potential role in the emergence of life on Earth.
Silicate weathering helps regulate Earth's climate by removing CO2 from the atmosphere at lower temperatures. The process is influenced by various landscape-scale conditions and physical processes, with temperature sensitivity varying depending on these factors.
Researchers from Australian National University have developed a new plant-inspired technology to extract valuable minerals, metals, and nutrients from resource-rich wastewater. This approach could offset 13.4% of global agricultural demand for phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, and provide electricity for 158 million households.
Researchers used isotopes to fingerprint the sources of sulfuric acid in unique cave systems, revealing a combination of bacterial and thermochemical processes. The study estimated carbon dioxide emissions from cave formation and identified hydrothermal springs as key contributors.
Researchers analyzing Ryugu asteroid samples found minerals produced through water reactions over 4.5 billion years ago, providing insight into the solar system's infancy. The discovery sheds light on asteroid accretion and the formation of planets like Earth.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.
The study suggests that increased demand for energy transition metals could be more disruptive to some communities than winding back production of thermal coal. An additional 115.7 million people would be at risk from disruption by ETMs.
A recent study by Chalmers University of Technology reveals that many vegetarian meat substitutes sold in Sweden are low in iron and zinc due to phytates. The researchers analyzed 44 different products and found that even fortified ones still contain phytates, which inhibit absorption.
Researchers at UCI and Johns Hopkins discovered that microorganisms can modify minerals through a biochemical process, inspiring new biomimetic mining methods. This discovery could enable humans to build colonies on the moon and Mars using microbes to extract essential minerals.
A team of researchers suggests a global mineral supply agreement to ensure green energy infrastructure development. The US, with its current metal shortage, particularly relies on China for mineral supplies, which could hinder the green transition.
A gold coin long dismissed as a forgery appears to be authentic and depicts Emperor Sponsian, who ruled Roman Dacia during civil wars. The study used scientific analysis to confirm the coin's authenticity, shedding light on Sponsian's history.
Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have discovered that CO2 in the deep Earth's dissolution in water may be more active than previously thought, influencing global climate over geologic time. Confining CO2 and water in suitable nanoporous minerals enhances underground carbon storage efficiency.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have discovered that patients with electrolyte abnormalities are twice as likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. This study analyzed Ontario health data between 2008 and 2020, identifying a potential preventative treatment for approximately 1 million Canadians.
Research reveals that high CO2 levels can lead to mineral deficiencies in plants, resulting in less nutritious crops. This affects protein content, particularly in staple crops like rice and wheat, with potential implications for global food security.
The researchers designed a chemical system inspired by soil that can respond to external stimuli and modulate gut microbiota abundance and dysregulated microbes. This system shows promise for treating gastrointestinal disorders and may have implications for human health and agro-ecosystems.
Researchers have discovered that aluminous silicas play a significant role in transporting water into the Earth's deep interior. These minerals can hold large amounts of water even at high temperatures, challenging previous assumptions about the water cycle in the mantle.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University used Mössbauer spectroscopy to study monoclinic pyroxenes, a type of calcium-rich mineral. They found that the tensor determining iron ion intensity ratios is independent of iron content but dependent on calcium content.
A new study reveals high-altitude contests between mountain goats and bighorn sheep for access to limited resources, such as minerals and water. Mountain goats emerged victorious in over 98% of contests, highlighting the importance of scarce resources in extreme environments.
The study identified wüstite FeO nanoparticles as an intermediate state in the thermal decomposition process of olivine. The research also found that pyroxene and anorthite do not undergo severe space weathering, providing clues for their incipient formation mechanism.
Researchers at WVU are resurrecting discarded electronics, recovering minerals, and making new products for national defense. The technology also has promise beyond national defense, including community-level e-waste recycling and space applications.
A team of researchers led by Goethe University Frankfurt analyzed a diamond from Botswana, revealing significant amounts of water stored in the transition zone. The discovery has far-reaching consequences for the dynamic situation inside the Earth, potentially altering global material circulation.
A new field study reveals a previously unobserved fluid dynamic process that affects the ocean's deep-sea mining operations. Researchers equipped a pre-prototype collector vehicle with instruments to monitor its sediment plume disturbances, finding that the plumes remained relatively low and spread under their own weight.
Microbes play a crucial role in mineral formation and weathering processes. Minerals, on the other hand, provide essential nutrients and shelter for microbial life.
The study identifies wüstite FeO nanoparticles in lunar soil, suggesting an intermediate state in the thermal decomposition process of olivine. The findings imply that severe space weathering may not have occurred on the lunar surface, warranting further investigation into the incipient formation mechanism of rim structures.
Researchers found that under the extreme conditions of the core-mantle boundary, carbon from the core reacts with iron alloy to form diamond. This process may have occurred for billions of years, supplying enough carbon to explain high amounts in the mantle.
The research team reviewed mineral-microbe interactions, proposing future research opportunities and challenges. Microbes dissolve, precipitate, and transform minerals through metabolism, producing biosignatures in the geological record.
Researchers analyzed plant-based beverages and found significant variability in mineral content by type and brand. Pea-based drinks had the most phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, while soy milks had the most magnesium.
New research from Curtin University reveals that comets may have formed Earth's early continents when the Solar System passed through densely populated areas of the Milky Way Galaxy. The study found a rhythm of crust production every 200 million years matching the system's transit through galaxy arms.
A new analysis of seismic data from NASA's Mars InSight mission has found that the Martian subsurface contains little or no ice, contradicting a leading idea about water on Mars. This discovery suggests that conditions are too cold to freeze water at depths below 300 meters near the equator.
Researchers discovered that specific tissue chemistry governs the likelihood of organs being preserved in fossils. The study found that a decaying fish's internal organs decompose in a 'soup' together, and their pH levels determine whether they'll be replaced by minerals.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used single calcite crystals with varying surface roughness to simplify the physics of fault movement. The study found that friction can increase or decrease with sliding velocity depending on mineral types and environment, providing a fundamental understanding of rate-and-state equations.
The study found that increased oil prices can lead to a decrease in the development of green energy, as oil is required for deploying clean energy capacity or infrastructure. The demand for minerals used in renewable energy production will increase due to growing solar technology adoption.
Research from the University of Georgia suggests that a diet rich in bright-colored fruits and vegetables, particularly those high in lutein and zeaxanthin, can help prevent visual and cognitive loss in women. This is due to the antioxidant properties of these carotenoids, which have been shown to improve central nervous system degener...
Researchers at TU Wien found that silicate nanoparticles can strengthen porous rock by forming colloidal crystals, which create new connections between mineral surfaces. The size of the particles is crucial for optimal strength gain, with smaller particles creating more binding sites.
A study of over 1000 consumers from Australia and NZ found that 27% would pay nearly double the price for 'healthy' drinks with low/no sugar, natural/no additives, or vitamins and minerals. Younger consumers (18-24 years) are more likely to be interested in healthy drinks.
A 15-year study details the origins and diversity of every known mineral on Earth, with over 10,500 mineral kinds identified. The research also reveals that 80% of minerals were formed with water, and 40% have multiple formation processes.
Researchers at Osaka University have created a microfluidic system that can detect minute changes in the concentration of trace amounts of ethanol, glucose, or minerals in water using terahertz radiation. The device achieved sensitivity levels an order of magnitude better than existing microfluidic chips.
Researchers found that hackmanite's structural breathing allows it to change color indefinitely due to sodium atoms moving inside a zeolitic cage. This property enables various applications such as UV monitoring and X-ray imaging.
The samples returned from the Hayabusa2 mission provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. The study found that Ryugu contains hydrated minerals and evidence of freeze-thawing, indicating that it experienced both liquid and frozen water in its past.
Researchers at The University of Queensland have discovered a method to date calcite trapped in ancient ocean floors, which could aid in sourcing critical minerals for electric cars and solar panels. This breakthrough could help meet the growing demand for renewable energy technologies.