US mines are literally throwing away critical minerals

Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, led a study that looked at the potential of harvesting critical minerals from the waste streams at current U.S. mining operations. The study found that the U.S. could get most of the critical minerals in requires through this strategy.
August 21, 2025

We could get most metals for clean energy without opening new mines

A new study, published by the journal Science and led by Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, concluded that the U.S. could get most of the critical minerals it needs by processing the waste streams at current U.S. mining operations.
August 21, 2025

Yes, Forever Chemicals Are in Your Wild Game and Fish. You Should Eat (Most of) It Anyway

Chris Higgins, AMAX Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, explains that while the research is still emerging, the risk of eating wild game and fish tainted with forever chemicals is likely comparable to consuming domestic livestock.
August 18, 2025

A gasoline spill raised alarms about Animas River impacts near Durango. The risk is small, not gone, experts say.

Lesley Sebol, manager of the Groundwater Resources Mission Area for the Colorado Geological Survey, called the detection of contaminants at a seep downhill from the spill “significant.”
August 11, 2025

Denver airport to explore nuclear energy as option to power growth

Mark Jensen, professor of chemistry, discusses Denver's decision to study the feasibility of utilizing a small modular nuclear reactor for Denver International Airport. Jensen says that it's likely 5 to 10 years before the U.S. will have its first operating nuclear reactor of this type.
August 7, 2025

Denver will explore nuclear power at DIA

Mark Jensen, professor of chemistry, sat down with 9NEWS to discuss the pros and cons of putting a small modular nuclear reactor at DIA. Jensen sees many pros to the idea, including it having a small footprint, providing, consistent and abundant power, and being carbon neutral. On the cons side he said a nuclear reactor would be expensive.
August 7, 2025

Innovative device helps vision-impaired people feel facial expressions

Jack Walters, a recent Mines alum, is CEO of Hapware. The firm is using haptic technology to create a device that allows the blind to interpret facial expressions. Walters said his company is also connecting with other communities, including people who are neurodiverse, to discover how the device can be helpful to them as well.
August 7, 2025

Denver to look at nuclear option for power at Denver International Airport

Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry and Grandey Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, discusses Denver International Airport's feasibility study focused on using a small modular nuclear reactor to power the airport.
August 6, 2025

DIA will explore nuclear energy as it anticipates more than 120 million passengers by 2045

Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry and Grandey University Chair in Nuclear Science and Engineering, discusses with Denver7 Denver International Airport's plan to study the feasibility of powering the facility with a small modular nuclear reactor.
August 6, 2025

App helps outdoor enthusiasts gain access to public lands surrounded by private properties

Sam Seeton, a Mines alum and CEO of Infinite Outdoors, is interviewed about his app that allows outdoor enthusiasts to connect with private property owners so they can access public lands that border private property.
August 4, 2025

Trump reshaped a climate program to extract more oil. This company stands to profit.

Anna Littlefield, program manager for low carbon energy technologies with the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says that valuing enhanced oil recovery equally with carbon storage could divert more investment into those companies doing enhanced oil recovery and less from the companies doing pure storage.
August 4, 2025

Raw power: how the global south can leverage the critical minerals race

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Center for Public Policy, co-authors this article about how the rise of economic nationalism and the return of territorial conquest as a normalized tool of statecraft is impacting the international critical minerals market.
August 2, 2025