The Elements of Innovation Discovered

Articles from the January 8, 2020 edition


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  • Salmon gold from Alaska placer mines for Apple environment restoration

    Apple seeks sustainable gold for iPhones

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated May 31, 2024

    Gold has been a symbol of prestige, royalty and wealth since before man first put words to clay tablets. While jewelry, coins and bars of this gleaming precious metal continues its storied history as a symbol of status and prosperity, today gold is also a very important ingredient to the functionality and reliability of most electronics, including the iPhones, iPads, Macs and other high-tech devises coming off the Apple assembly lines. Wanting to be as highly regarded for its...

  • Self driving autonomous mining loader glass labyrinth underground mine

    Robotic mines of the future are here

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jun 8, 2023

    Minerbots unite! With an arsenal of lasers and explosives able to reduce mineral-rich bedrock to rubble before morphing into trucks, loaders and other heavy equipment to deliver ore to processing plants that extract the sought-after metals, the Transformers of movie fame would make great miners! While today's mines do not currently employ Optimus Prime-like automatons to produce the metals the world needs and wants, they have developed non-transforming robots on a grandiose...

  • Lithium-ion batteries revolutionize energy

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    The advent of the lithium-ion battery at the close of the 20th century has dramatically changed how we live, work and play. This revolutionary transformation, which began by allowing us to put our phones in our pockets and computers under our arms, has expanded to almost every facet of our life – from robot vacuums dutifully keeping our floors clean to zero-emission cars travelling our highways. While we might not think too much about it, when you add up all the laptops, table...

  • Autonomous self driving mining truck equipment at Australian mines

    Australia invests $27M in mining technology

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    Australia, which already sits at the cutting edge of mining innovation, is investing heavily into ensuring Aussie miners remain on the cusp of emerging technologies that make the sector more efficient, sustainable and safer. Toward this goal, the Australian government and private sector partners are investing more than A$27 million in mining technologies, training and research. This includes A$12.5 million in funding, from the Australian government and industry organizations,...

  • First Solar photovoltaic PV panel installation renewable energy United Statees

    Solar to see strong growth again in 2020

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 1, 2022

    Global solar installations will continue double-digit growth rates into the new decade, according to the 2020 Global Photovoltaic Demand Forecast by IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information and analytics. This continued strong growth in solar installations is putting new demand on the metals that go into the solar panels and their installation. Nine metals and minerals – beryllium, cadmium, gallium, germanium, indium, molybdenum, silicon, silver and tellurium – go in...

  • Scientists urge green energy metal policies

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jun 27, 2020

    Scientists are urging world governments to get out in front of the skyrocketing demand for the minerals and metals that are going to be needed for solar, wind and other green energy initiatives in the coming years – whether they come from terrestrial or extraterrestrial sources. According to a research report from the University of Sussex, the amount of cobalt, copper, lithium, cadmium and rare earth elements needed for solar panels, wind turbines, rechargeable batteries, e...