In The News: Department of Geoscience

Ramping up renewable energy products will require a range of critical metals. One of these elements, tellurium, is gaining in popularity for use in photovoltaics, or solar panels. As global demand for solar panels continues to increase, so is the need for critical metals like tellurium.

Boats and bodies aren’t the only things revealing secrets at Lake Mead. Newly-exposed rock at Lake Mead has revealed that the Las Vegas Valley could be impacted by volcanic ash from neighboring states.

Not only have Lake Mead’s dwindling water levels exposed human remains and old relics but now decades-old sedimentary rocks containing volcanic ash are being seen at the lake, according to a recent 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ study.
Lake Mead's receding water levels are now revealing ancient volcanic eruptions from millions of years ago.
A diamond contains the only known sample of a mineral from Earth’s mantle—and hints at oceans’ worth of water hidden deep within our planet
The mineral may shake things up by changing its identity at high pressure and temperature
A blue flaw in a gem-quality diamond from Africa is a tiny fragment of Earth's deep interior, and it suggests our planet's mantle contains oceans' worth of water.
Experts estimate that the Inflation Reduction Act will create upwards of nine million jobs, spread out across a variety of roles and sectors
The natural disaster comes just two weeks after some of the most famous casinos - Circa Resort, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood Casino, and the LINQ Hotel - were flooded due to monsoon rains.
The Las Vegas strip was hit with flash floods following thunderstorms and heavy rain showers on Thursday night

Airports, parking lots, and the entire Las Vegas Strip, which houses some of the world’s most famous casinos and hotels, were flooded Thursday night.

Across the western United States, many areas are drying up, and Lake Powell and Lake Mead continue to reach historic lows.