URBAN 5 (IMAGE) Rice University Caption Metals settle at the bottom of a vial after being separated from other components in a crushed circuit board through flash Joule heating. The process developed at Rice University could lead to “urban mining” for valuable metals from electronic waste. Credit Jeff Fitlow/Rice University Usage Restrictions None License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.