As Interest in Deep-Sea Mining Grows, Scientists Raise Alarms About the Possible Ecological Consequences
Gathering minerals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from the seabed could affect everything from sponges to whales. The long-term effects of these extractions remain uncertain
How Researchers Discovered a 168-Year-Old Dutch Shipwreck Off the Coast of Australia in Underwater ‘Blizzard’ Conditions
The Dutch merchant ship ‘Koning Willem de Tweede’ sank off the coast of South Australia in a violent storm in June 1857
Humans Have Seen Only 0.001 Percent of the World’s Deep Seas, Leaving Most of the Planet a Vast Mystery
Researchers argue that expanding deep-sea exploration is vital to understanding and managing these marine habitats
As Norway Considers Deep-Sea Mining, a Rich History of Ocean Conservation Decisions May Inform How the Country Acts
In the past, scientists, industry and government have worked together in surprising, tense and fruitful ways
Tree Rings Bear Witness to Illegal Gold Mining Operations in the Amazon, New Study Finds
Mercury concentrations in fig trees could provide useful information about mining activity in the rainforest over time
Scientists Who Found Mysterious ‘Dark Oxygen’ on the Ocean Floor Plan a New Expedition, Hoping to Settle Disputes
Last year, the team made headlines when it published a paper describing how metal lumps at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean seemed to produce oxygen without sunlight
Extinct Volcanoes May Be an Untapped Source of Rare Metals
Unexplored iron-rich magma could help power current and future technologies
Miners Unearth a Mummified Woolly Rhino in Siberia, With an Intact Horn and Soft Tissue
The rare discovery will help scientists find out more about the prehistoric animal’s development, diet and living conditions
Largest Diamond Since 1905 Unearthed by Miners in Botswana
Volcanic eruptions long ago brought the 2,492-carat diamond—the latest in a string of stunning discoveries over the last decade—to the surface
Scientists Discover ‘Dark Oxygen’ on the Ocean Floor Generated—Surprisingly—by Lumps of Metal
Researchers found that electric currents from polymetallic nodules are behind this alchemy—the same minerals that deep-sea miners are targeting
From Cisterns to Temples, These Twelve Underground Worlds Are Open for Exploring
Some of these age-old subterranean spaces have even been transformed into amusement parks, art galleries and restaurants
For 75 Years, Runners Have Raced in Colorado Tethered to Donkeys
Harkening back to mining days, the sport has human-donkey teams navigating challenging mountain courses
Historic Borax Wagon Destroyed in Blaze at Death Valley National Park
Beginning in 1883, 18 mules and two horses hauled wagons full of borax across eastern California
Medieval English Coins Were Made With Melted Byzantine Silver
Researchers have solved the mystery of the silver coin boom that took place around 660 C.E.
Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected From Development
Only a few lunar sites are ideal for certain cutting-edge research—and they’re under threat from mining, satellites and bases, scientists argue
What Happened to the Canary in the Coal Mine? The Story of How the Real-Life Animal Helper Became Just a Metaphor
The humble bird, which was employed until 1986, represents an important part of mining history
French Tourist Finds 7.46-Carat Diamond at Arkansas State Park
Julien Navas plans to have the brown gem split into two pieces so he can give half to his fiancée and half to his daughter
Miners Discover Seven-Foot Mammoth Tusk in North Dakota
After coal mine workers found the 50-pound specimen, paleontologists studied the site and uncovered more than 20 additional bones
The Top Ten Ocean Stories of 2023
Major discoveries, an undersea tragedy and international cooperation were some of the biggest saltwater moments of the year
2,000-Year-Old Child’s Shoe Found in Austrian Mine
The leather shoe in “outstanding” condition is comparable to a U.S. children’s size 12
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