MIT scientists have developed a new super material that is both stronger than steel and as light as plastic. Study Finds reports: Scientists at MIT have developed a material that is as light as plastic — but stronger than steel. They believe the material could revolutionize the car, mobile phone and building industries. The easily manufactured substance – up to six times more difficult to break than bulletproof glass – is the result of an engineering feat previously thought to be impossible. It is a two-dimensional polymer that self-assembles into sheets, unlike all other polymers, which … [Read more...]
FRACK OUT: Is the End of the Shale Boom at Hand?
America's oil production has been boosted for years now by the emergence of shale fracking technologies that released previously unrecoverable deposits of oil and gas from their subterranean confinement and boosted U.S. energy production to new highs. Then came the pandemic, and oil companies began reevaluating the longevity and economic vitality of their shale oil properties. At The Wall Street Journal, Collin Eaton reports: The end of the boom is in sight for America’s fracking companies. Less than 3½ years after the shale revolution made the U.S. the world’s largest oil producer, … [Read more...]
Global Famine Could Follow Potential Russia-Ukraine War
Both Russia and Ukraine are among the top seven wheat-producing countries in the world. Despite being vast, much of Russia's wheat-producing farmland is near Ukraine. A war between the two nations could disrupt the planting, growth, and harvesting of a major portion of the world's wheat production. The potential for such a war could is already having effects on the market for grains. Will Horner and Kirk Maltais report in The Wall Street Journal: The threat of war between Russia and Ukraine is rattling international grain markets, driving wheat prices higher on both sides of the Atlantic and … [Read more...]
OIL’S SLICK: Producers Regain Their Footing After COVID Turbulence
Oil producers are regaining their footing after COVID-19 supply and demand disruptions produced wild swings in prices for their products. The Wall Street Journal's Christopher M. Matthews reports: Chevron Corp. CVX -4.64% had its most profitable year since 2014, reporting Friday that it earned $15.6 billion in net income in 2021, as commodity prices surged on the back of a global economic recovery. The U.S. oil giant’s annual earnings were a dramatic turnaround from 2020, when Chevron lost $5.5 billion after the global pandemic routed demand for oil and gas. It reported a fourth-quarter … [Read more...]
Has the Fake Meat Hype-Cycle Finally Ended?
For years consumers have been bombarded by stories about Impossible Burgers and Beyond Meat. These meat substitutes, they were told, would save the earth by decarbonizing the "meat" industry, and best of all, they're "just like real meat." Except, reality appears not to be living up to the hype. Emiko Terazono and Judith Evans report in the Financial Times: Bean patties and tofu burgers have been around for decades, but consumer interest in the new generation of plant-based meats, mimicking the taste, texture and smell of animal meat, surged around the flotation of US start-up Beyond Meat in … [Read more...]
Uncertainty Driving Investors Into Gold
Investors are fleeing from global uncertainties like war and pandemic into a historical safe haven, gold. Hardika Singh reports for The Wall Street Journal: Rising geopolitical tensions in Europe and a slide in major U.S. stock indexes has sent investors rushing into the haven metal. On Friday, they poured a record net $1.6 billion into SPDR Gold Shares, GLD +0.50% the world’s largest physically backed gold exchange-traded fund, according to Dow Jones Market Data. When individuals buy shares of an ETF backed by physical gold, they are buying a stake in a trust. The ETF tracks the metal’s … [Read more...]
Serbia Returns Australia’s Backhand, Cancels Rio Tinto Lithium Mining Licenses
Shortly after Australia decided to kick Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic out of the country for being unvaccinated, Serbia has announced that it is cancelling the lithium mining licenses of Australian mining company Rio Tinto. Reuters reports: Serbia revoked Rio Tinto's (RIO.L) lithium exploration licences on Thursday, bowing to protesters who opposed the development of the project by the Anglo-Australian mining giant on environmental grounds. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the government's decision came after requests by various green groups to halt the$2.4 billion Jadar … [Read more...]
America’s Plan for Lithium
Lithium prices are rising at the fastest pace in years. The electrification of the vehicle fleet is boosting demand while supply has been constrained by limited investment in new projects and supply-chain bottlenecks. What is America’s plan for a potential lithium age? It looks to be as incoherent as our policy toward oil, natural gas, and coal. Policymakers want more electric, but environmental opposition and permitting are limiting new supply. Thankfully, lithium is abundant so it is just a matter of getting resources developed. Amrith Ramkumar explains in The Wall Street … [Read more...]
STRATEGIC THREAT: China Aims to Dominate Rare Earth Minerals Market
China already controls much of the world's trade in rare earth minerals, which are vital to many new technologies from cell phones to fighter jets. Now the country's leadership is aiming for more control. Given China’s history with rare earths, there should probably be tariffs on any rare earth metals produced in the country to allow foreign competition. Keith Zhai reports in The Wall Street Journal: China has approved the creation of one of the world’s largest rare-earths companies to aim to maintain its dominance in the global supply chain of the strategic metals as tensions deepen with the … [Read more...]
Local and National News Reports: Gas Prices Are Up
Your Survival Guy received an email yesterday from National Grid, my natural gas and electricity provider. The email explained that “you may have heard on local and national news reports, natural gas prices have risen worldwide in recent months due to increased global demand and lagging natural gas production.” Really? And to boot, “Since natural gas plays a major role in generating electricity, there will also be an impact on your electric bill.” Shocker. “While National Grid can’t control this global rise in natural gas prices, we are committed to helping you manage higher energy bills.” … [Read more...]
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