Chris Higgins, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and a host of other Mines PFAS experts, hosted a PFAS media event at the Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. The Mines officials explained the work being done at the base to discover the best way to capture and destroy the "forever chemicals."

Ian Lange, associate professor of economics and business, notes that because copper is used in such a wide variety of products, increases in the price of the metal can cause a general inflation in prices.

Mines researchers are comparing the performance of a variety of PFAS technologies that are aimed at recovering and destroying the "forever chemicals." A demonstration day at Peterson Space Force Base allowed the news media a chance to learn about the work.

Hapware, an application developed by Mines students and alums, is designed to allow persons who are visually impaired or neuro-diverse to be able to interpret facial expressions. Hapware utilizes a camera installed in glasses and a vibrating wristband.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says the U.S. losing domestic smeltering would translate into the country losing the ability to produce critical minerals.

Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, said a significant change in air pressure combined with high wind speeds can lead to a meteotsunami wave. While traditional tsunamis are caused by seafloor movement like earthquakes, meteotsunamis are caused by fast-moving weather conditions like thunderstorms.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis visits the Mines campus to discuss a new program where new dorms are being built with the help of student apprentices. It's part of a state program that connects students with hands-on training.

In the wake of the U.S. attack on nuclear sites in Iran, Thomas Albrecht, professor of chemistry, discusses that country's efforts to refine uranium. Albrecht says there's no non-military rationale for the Iranians to refine the mineral to 60 percent.

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, says that despite a volatile situation in the Middle East, drilling levels aren't likely to change because there hasn't been a significant change in the oil supply and demand equation.

Dylan Domaille, an associate professor in the chemistry, said demonstrating that bacteria can turn plastic waste into something useful could motivate efforts to make breaking down plastics more scalable and sustainable.

Stephen Sonnenberg, professor of geology and geologic engineering, says the U.S. has at least a 100 year supply of natural gas. He says that supply could double as alternative energy sources kick in.

Nicole Smith, associate professor in mining engineering, says people who have lived around mining activity previously are "cautiously optimistic" about the impact of a new focus on critical minerals mining. She said boom and bust cycles and associated environmental degradation are a cause for the mixed feelings people have.