Instant Genius Podcast: Why the next gold rush is happening at the bottom of the ocean

Instant Genius Podcast: Why the next gold rush is happening at the bottom of the ocean

Inside the race to mine underwater mountains.

Photo credit: BBC Science Focus

Published: July 28, 2023 at 7:20 am

Instant Genius is a bite-sized masterclass in podcast form. And in this episode, we plunge into the murky world of deep-sea mining.

We now know that the deep sea is full of bizarre creatures, and these have found a special place in our imaginations. But some people have their eyes on a different sort of ocean riches: the rare minerals and metals embedded in underwater mountains and rocks for use in everything from phones to electric cars.

At the time of recording, representatives from countries around the world have just decided to delay a decision on deep sea mining laws by two years. So what’s the deal with the seabed, and why is everyone talking about it right now?

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