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Days After Trump’s Commitment to Underwater Mining, Tensions Mount Between Both Sides

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Shortly after President Trump issued an executive order to expedite submarine mining efforts, the US government received its first permission application. This initiative is championed by notable supporters within the metal industry.

On Tuesday, CEO Gerald Baron was present in Washington for a controversial hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources. He likened the beginning of this process to a “starting gun” signaling a race to extract minerals like cobalt and nickel from nodules situated 2.5 miles deep on the ocean floor.

Debate erupted among committee members from both parties regarding the environmental implications of this mining practice. The Trump administration indicated it would contemplate permits for mining activities within US jurisdiction and international waters.

Other nations have accused the US of attempting to bypass international law, arguing that the waters designated for submarine mining should come under the governance of an independent international authority.

To date, no commercial submarine mining has been conducted.

California leader Jared Huffman, a ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized both the Metals Company and Trump for advancing undersea mining in “reckless cowboy fashion.” Democrats raised concerns over the financial viability of mining cobalt and nickel, citing major electric vehicle manufacturers’ shift towards alternative battery materials.

“The financial model of the industry is based on overly optimistic assumptions and does not reflect the realities and volatility of the global mineral market,” remarked Oregon Democrat Maxine E. Dexter.

The Metals Company attempted to reassure the committee, arguing that the potential harm to the seabed would outweigh the limited job creation and that accessing these minerals could reduce dependence on Chinese sources. They stated that a decade of extensive environmental studies supports their position.

Trump’s order follows years of delays by international authorities in establishing a regulatory framework for submarine mining. The authorities, established under United Nations auspices decades ago, are likely to miss another deadline this year for finalizing these regulations.

Baron informed the committee that it took him 14 years to draft the mining code, describing it as a “deliberate strategy” to slow undersea mining.

He further claimed that a polymetallic nodule extracted by his company is now on President Trump’s desk in the Oval Office.

According to the US Geological Survey, it is estimated that nodules within the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Eastern Pacific contain more nickel, cobalt, and manganese than all terrestrial reserves combined. This proposed mining zone spans half the size of the US between Mexico and Hawaii.

Committee Chair Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona, insisted that subsea mining is essential for liberating the US from China’s “supply chain control.”

China has recently placed export restrictions on several rare earth elements, raising concerns that American companies may face shortages in producing advanced electronic devices.

The House Committee also considered a study discussing the impact of submarine mining on the seafloor conducted by Thomas Peacock, a mechanical engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, partially funded by metal companies.

Dr. Peacock indicated that there may be countless undiscovered species in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, suggesting that certain areas should be off-limits for mining. However, he noted that the anticipated environmental impacts of nodule mining might not be as severe as speculated.

He specifically minimized the risk of mining causing plumes of sand and debris that could harm seabed life, comparing the fragments to “grains of sand in a fishbowl.”

In attendance with Mr. Baron was the CEO of Impossible Metals, a future deep-sea mining company. Unlike other companies that use vacuum-like extraction technologies along the ocean floor, Impossible Metals claims to have developed machines that can collect nodules selectively without disturbing the seabed.

“Our underwater robots hover to gather mineral-rich nodules from the seabed through AI-guided selective harvesting,” explained Oliver Gunasekara, CEO of Impossible Metals. “We avoid all visible marine life and leave 60% untouched.”

The company has reapplied for permission to conduct operations in US Samoa. Gunasekara noted that their previous applications were rejected during the Biden administration, but with new leadership in both American Samoa and Washington, he is optimistic about gaining approval.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Study suggests that nearby rivers are causing Mount Everest’s peak to rise

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Mount Everest, also known as Chomolangma in Tibetan and Sagarmatha in Nepali, is about 15 to 50 meters higher than its original height due to uplift caused by erosion of nearby river canyons, and therefore continues to grow. This is revealed in a new study.

Han et al. They found that erosion from a network of rivers about 75 km from Everest had carved out a significant canyon. This landmass loss has caused mountains to rise by 2 mm per year, and their heights have already increased by 15 to 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. Image credit: truthseeker08.

The Himalayas, formed by the subduction of the Indian tectonic plate beneath the Eurasian plate, are home to some of the highest mountains on Earth.

Mount Everest is 8,849 meters above sea level, about 250 meters higher than the other highest peaks in the Himalayas.

Previous analysis of GPS data suggests that Everest's recent uplift is about 2 mm per year, which exceeds the expected uplift rate for the mountain range and suggests that mechanisms other than ongoing regional tectonics are responsible. This suggests that it may contribute to this process.

“Mount Everest is a remarkable mountain of myth and legend, and it continues to grow,” said Dr. Student Adam Smith.

“Our research shows that the nearby river system is cutting deeper and the loss of material is causing the mountain to spring further upwards.”

In this study, Smith and his colleagues investigated whether changes in rivers near the mountain may have contributed to Everest's recent uplift.

They used a numerical model to simulate the evolution of the Kosi river network and compared it to existing landforms.

These models suggest that the Arun River, a major tributary of the Kosi River, was involved in the occupation of another river 89,000 years ago.

The diversion of river water accelerated river erosion as the river adapted to its new path, resulting in the formation of the deep Arun River Gorge.

“Currently, the Arun River flows east of Mount Everest and joins the larger Kosi River system downstream,” Mr Smith said.

“For thousands of years, the River Arun has carved great gorges along its banks, washing away billions of tonnes of soil and sediment.”

“There are interesting river systems in the Everest region,” said Dr. Jing Geng Dai, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences.

“The upper Arun River flows eastward through highlands with flat valleys.''

“Then it suddenly turns south as the Kosi River, dropping in elevation and becoming steeper.”

“This unique feature of instability may be related to Everest's extreme height.”

The authors conclude that although erosion would have lowered local elevations along the river channel, the formation of the canyon removed the eroded mass relatively abruptly, allowing the surrounding landforms, including Everest, to compensate with surface uplift. It is argued that there is a possibility that

Although its contribution may be small compared to tectonic deformation, fluvial capture may play a role in both erosion and uplift of high landforms.

“Everest and its neighboring mountains are growing because isotropic rebound is causing them to rise faster than erosional wear,” said Dr. Matthew Fox, a researcher at University College London. said.

“Using GPS equipment, we can see it grow by about two millimeters every year. Now we can better understand what's causing that.”

“The change in the height of Mount Everest really highlights the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface,” says Dr. Xu Han, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences.

“The interaction between the erosion of the Arun River and the upward pressure of the Earth's mantle gives Everest a boost, pushing it higher than normal.”

of study Published in a magazine natural earth science.

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X Han others. The recent uplift of Chomolungma was reinforced by river drainage piracy. nut. earth sciencepublished online on September 30, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01535-w

Source: www.sci.news

The Rising Height of Mount Everest: An Exploration of Why the World’s Tallest Mountain Continues to Grow

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Standing at an impressive height of 29,032 feet, Mount Everest surpasses the nearby Himalayas by several hundred feet.

Scientists have discovered that the world’s highest mountain is still growing, attributed in part to the merging of two nearby river systems tens of thousands of years ago.

Researchers found that Everest rose between approximately 50 feet and 160 feet due to this merging, as detailed in a study published in Nature Geoscience.

“Even a seemingly permanent landform like Mount Everest can be continuously changed by various geological forces,” said Dai, a geoscientist from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing and co-author of the study, in an email to NBC News.

The Himalayas, including Everest, have been steadily increasing in height since the collision of the Indian subcontinent and the lower Eurasian plates around 45 million years ago.

A significant event occurred about 89,000 years ago when the Kosi River overtook the Arun River, leading to substantial erosion of rock and soil from the Himalayan foothills nearly 80 miles from Everest.

Through a geological process known as isostatic rebound, erosion reduced the weight of the area, allowing for the uplift of the Earth’s crust.

Scientists estimate that this rebound is causing Everest to grow at a rate of 0.16 to 0.53 millimeters per year, accounting for half of its annual uplift rate.

Research suggests that this phenomenon may explain why Mount Everest is unusually tall compared to its neighboring peaks.

Professor Dai noted that the role of isostatic rebound associated with river capture and erosion in Everest’s elevation adds a novel aspect to the study of mountain formation.

“These findings, while not completely revolutionary, are certainly surprising and could prompt a reevaluation of current models of the formation and evolution of the Himalayas,” Dai commented.

The study also emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Earth’s systems, where changes in one region can have significant impacts on others,” he added.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

How to Witness the Spectacular ‘Devil’s Comet’ Event of 2024 Tonight, Comparable to Mount Everest in Size

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Currently in orbit within the inner regions of the solar system is comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as Pons-Brooks, which is making its first appearance in over 70 years and is expected to be visible without the aid of telescopes soon. This massive ice chunk, roughly 30 kilometers (19 miles) in diameter, is comparable in size to Mount Everest and is considered one of the brightest known periodic comets by astrophysicists. Pons-Brooks, classified as a Halley-type comet, has an orbit around the Sun of 71.3 years and was last observed in the sky in 1954. Discovered in 1812 by Jean-Louis Pons and later confirmed in 1883 by William Robert Brooks, this is the first recorded sighting of the comet dating back to 1385.

When is Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Visible?

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently visible and will remain so until April 21, 2024, with optimal viewing conditions expected towards the end of March. With binoculars or a small telescope, the comet is already observable in the sky, particularly when the Moon is located in the west below the Andromeda Galaxy moving through Pisces. By the end of the month, the comet will pass near the brighter stars in Aries, moving in the direction of Jupiter. As its brightness increases towards the end of the month, it may become visible to the naked eye under clear, dark skies. On March 31st, Pons-Brooks will be just 0.5 degrees away from a bright star named Hamal, which is equivalent to the diameter of the full moon, according to Strom. Those having trouble locating these constellations can benefit from downloading a stargazing app. For residents of the United States, the comet may also be visible in the sky during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Following its closest approach to the Sun on April 21, Pons-Brooks will fade and become visible only to observers in the southern hemisphere.

Why the Name “Devil’s” Comet?

The recent sighting of Pons-Brooks is not its first appearance in recent times. Referred to as the “Devil’s Comet,” due to a peculiar outburst in July 2023 that led to a temporary brightening resembling devil horns, Pons-Brooks is classified as a cryovolcanic comet that sporadically erupts, expelling dust, gas, and ice into space. These eruptions are triggered by the comet warming up as it nears the Sun, resulting in increased pressure causing the release of icy material from beneath the surface of the comet. The gas forms a bright coma, a halo of evaporated material surrounding the solid core of the comet. Comets appear brightest when closest to the Sun due to sunlight reflecting off the evaporated material, with the tails formed by interaction with charged particles from the solar wind. Pons-Brooks experienced similar but less intense outbursts on various dates in recent months, contributing to its brightness when close to the Sun.

What Does “12P” Mean?

The designation “12P” in the comet’s name indicates that it is the 12th comet discovered within a set period. Baskill explains that long-period comets, originating from the edge of the solar system, may have orbits lasting thousands or even tens of thousands of years, while short-period comets like Pons-Brooks return to the inner solar system in less than 200 years. Notable short-period comets include Comet Halley, with a period close to that of Pons-Brooks, expected to return in 2061. Current estimations suggest there are around 3,910 known comets in total, but astronomers believe there could be up to 1 trillion comets within our solar system.

Upcoming Comets

Expect to observe Comet 13P/Olbers in June and July, with observers in the Northern Hemisphere likely to spot it using binoculars. This comet, also known as a Halley’s Comet, orbits the Sun every 69 years. In late 2024, Comet C/2023 A3 is predicted to enter the inner solar system, potentially showcasing exceptional brightness in September and October, comparable to the brightest stars and potentially earning the title of “Great Comet.”

About Our Experts:

Dr. Paul Strom serves as an Assistant Professor within the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, focusing on the PLATO space mission and various astrophysical topics, particularly far-ultraviolet observations to understand the environments where young planets form. His research paper titled “Exo-solar Comets from a Solar System Perspective” was published in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Dr. Darren Baskill is an outreach officer and lecturer at the University of Sussex’s School of Physics and Astronomy. Previously involved with the Royal Observatory Greenwich, he organized the annual Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Strategy by Mount Sinai to Serve a Diverse Community

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A team at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed a new statistical method, BridgePRS, to improve predictions of disease in non-European populations, particularly people of African descent. This method addresses the limitations of current polygenic risk scores, which are less accurate for non-European ancestry, and represents an important step toward personalized medicine and reducing healthcare disparities. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Statistical methods enhance prediction of genetic diseases in non-European populations and address health care equity.

A team of scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed BridgePRS, a groundbreaking statistical method to better predict disease in people of non-European descent, particularly people of African descent. This development represents an important step towards reducing healthcare disparities and a future of more personalized and precise medical interventions based on genetic information. Details of their research can be found today (December 20, 2023). natural genetics.

Addressing healthcare inequalities with enhanced polygenic risk scores

Current polygenic risk scores (PRS) are essential tools for predicting disease risk; DNA, based on genetic data from individuals of primarily European descent. This bias makes statistics less accurate for people of African and Asian descent and exacerbates health care inequalities between different ethnic groups.

The researchers undertook this study to improve disease prediction from genetics in non-European populations. Although the main goal of personalized medicine is disease prevention, the current PRS is a weak predictor, especially in non-European populations.

BridgePRS improves prediction for individuals of African descent in the New York BioMe cohort.Credit: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Closing the gap in genetic disease prediction

“More genetic data from diverse ancestry is needed, but our method can help combine existing data to maximize disease prediction for all people,” says Genetics and Genome Sciences. Dr. Clive Hoggart, assistant professor and lead author of the paper, explained. “This progress is possible because the biology that causes disease is strikingly similar across ancestry.”

“We hope our method opens the door to scientific investigation of disease risk in diverse populations around the world,” said lead author Dr. Paul O’Reilly, associate professor of genetics and genomic sciences. “The prevalence of diseases and the importance of different biological pathways vary globally. Understanding these differences is critical to advancing disease prediction and treatment.”

The field of optimizing disease prediction using PRS is highly competitive and is driving rapid progress. Dr O’Reilly said: “Our BridgePRS method is particularly promising for predicting disease in people of African descent, a population with rich genetic diversity that can provide new insights into human disease. ” states.

While recognizing the potential of genetics and DNA in predicting future disease and the role of PRS in precision medicine, it is important to understand that the biology that causes disease does not differ significantly by ancestry group or race. It is important.

Reference: “BridgePRS exploits shared genetic effects between ancestors to improve portability of polygenic risk scores,” December 20, 2023, Nature Genetics.
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01583-9

All remaining authors are Icahn Mount Sinai and Dr. Shing Wan Choi, except where noted. (Regeneron Genetics Center), Judit García-González, Ph.D., Tade Souaiaia, Ph.D. (Suny Downstate Health Sciences), and Michael Prouss, Ph.D.

This research was funded by grant number R01MH122866 from the National Institute of Mental Health and grant number R01HG012773 from the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Source: scitechdaily.com