The Obtain: The minerals powering our economic system, and Chinese language firms’ id disaster
It’s straightforward to persuade ourselves that we now stay in a dematerialized ethereal world, dominated by digital startups, synthetic intelligence, and monetary companies.
But there may be little proof that now we have decoupled our economic system from its churning starvation for assets. We’re nonetheless reliant on the merchandise of geological processes like coal and quartz, a mineral that’s a wealthy supply of the silicon used to construct pc chips, to energy our world.
Three current books intention to reconnect readers with the bodily actuality that underpins the worldwide economic system. Every one fills in darkish secrets and techniques concerning the locations, processes, and lived realities that make the economic system tick, and divulges simply how tragic a toll the supplies we depend on take for people and the atmosphere. Learn the complete story.
—Matthew Ponsford
The story is from the present print concern of MIT Expertise Assessment, which is on the theme of Construct. Should you don’t already, subscribe now to obtain future copies as soon as they land.
Should you’re within the minerals powering our economic system, why not check out my colleague James Temple’s items about how a US city is being torn aside as communities conflict over plans to open a nickel mine—and the way that mine might unlock billions in EV subsidies.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Blacklisted Chinese language companies are rebranding as American
In a bid to swerve the Biden administration’s crackdown on nationwide safety issues. (WSJ $)+ The US has sanctioned three Chinese language nationals over their hyperlinks to a botnet. (Ars Technica)
2 Greater than half of automobiles bought final 12 months have been SUVs
The massive autos are main contributors to the local weather disaster. (The Guardian)
+ Three often requested questions on EVs, answered. (MIT Expertise Assessment)
