U.S. Is Reviewing Impossible Metals Proposal to Mine the Seabed
The New York TimesWednesday, May 21, 2025 at 3:32:22 PM
** The U.S. government is currently evaluating a proposal from Impossible Metals to mine the ocean floor for critical minerals. The company aims to extract metals like nickel and cobalt—key ingredients for batteries and renewable tech—using underwater robots designed to minimize environmental harm. But deep-sea mining is controversial, with critics warning it could devastate fragile marine ecosystems.
What This Means: ** This isn’t just about digging up rocks—it’s a high-stakes balancing act. On one hand, these minerals are crucial for clean energy, which the world desperately needs. On the other, scraping the seabed could wreck habitats we barely understand. The U.S. review could set a precedent for how (or if) this industry grows, so all eyes are on whether regulators prioritize speed or caution.
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