NEWS RELEASES

What do wind turbines, EV batteries, military equipment and your smartphone have in common? Probably more than you think. To be manufactured, these products require critical minerals that are found beneath our feet. But gaining access to these minerals, which are crucial and in high demand worldwide, is not a simple process. Currently, the United States relies heavily on importing these materials, which can be delayed for various reasons. As a result, finding domestic sources of critical minerals is a priority. But finding new sources of critical minerals can take years of drilling, sample collection and laboratory testing before geologists know whether a site contains sufficient deposits to merit development. Researchers at Texas A&M University are working to change that. 

Scientists have developed a new understanding of how fish interact as they school in groups. Fish were found to copy their neighbors to align their movements within schools. The discovery opens a door to examining how the brains of individuals interact to produce group-level collective behavior.

A process called nucleation often initiates phase transitions such as condensation or freezing.

A UCLA-led study uses advanced 3D atomic imaging to revise a widely accepted, century-old theory describing how nucleation happens.

The findings deepen our understanding of a fundamental process in nature and could have implications for far-flung areas of science and industry, including the development of next-generation alloys.