In the news

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.

Simon Lomax, who leads the methane emissions reduction program at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authors this guest column about why methane reductions are more than just good for the environment.

Jeff King, professor of metallurgical and materials engineering, advised against cutting the counterterrorism program that provides nuclear and radiological detection equipment and training to protect against terrorist attacks.

The Korean Broadcasting Service's long feature examining quantum developments across the globe devotes a lot of attention to Mines' quantum work. Mines shows up first at about 35 minutes into the program.

Jennifer Miskimins, professor and department head of petroleum engineering at Colorado School of Mines, discusses the challenges faced by U.S. universities in recruiting students to study petroleum engineering, geology, mining engineering and more.

Column by Molly Morgan, PhD candidate in geology; Brad Handler, head of the Payne Institute's Energy Finance Lab; and Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, details how The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to issue up to 15 pilot permits that allow qualified third parties to clean up legacy mine pollution without assuming legal liability for contamination they did not cause.

Rod Eggert, research professor of economics and business, says substitutes for magnets made from rare earth minerals are less efficient. China is the nearly exclusive source for these magnets.