Nickel may not grow on trees—but there’s a chance it could someday be mined using plants. Many plants naturally soak up metal and concentrate it in their tissues. The US government is now investing $9.9 million in research to explore the potential of plant-based mining, known as phytomining.
This innovative approach could revolutionize the way we source metals like nickel, which are essential for the production of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The ultimate goal is to identify plants that can assist in mining and optimize them to extract critical metals efficiently. The future of mining could be greener than we ever imagined. Read on to discover more about this groundbreaking research.
—Casey Crownhart
The year is 2149 and…
—An excerpt from a thought-provoking short story by novelist Sean Michaels, offering a glimpse into life 125 years from now.
The year is 2149 and society operates on a highly structured system known as “living on rails.” Individuals follow detailed instructions provided by software that has intricate knowledge of their preferences and behaviors. This software comprehends your fears, joys, past activities, and future predictions with astounding accuracy. Gone are the days of data privacy, as the collective information has been amalgamated into a vast reservoir of knowledge—a Federal Reserve of data, if you will.
This centralized data hub, akin to a sprawling cloud network, guides individuals in making decisions by presenting the most optimized pathways. The era of personalized guidance has dawned, thanks to the comprehensive data amalgamation known as the Big Merge. Navigating life has never been more convenient, as this unified data source illuminates the most favorable courses of action.