Deep-sea mining could start soon — before we understand its risks
An underwater gold rush may be on the horizon — or rather, a rush to mine the seafloor for manganese, nickel, cobalt and other minerals used in electric vehicles, solar panels and more.
Meanwhile, scientists and conservationists hope to pump the brakes on the prospect of deep-sea mining, warning that it may scar the seafloor for decades — and that there’s still far too little known about the lingering harm it might do to the deep ocean’s fragile ecosystems. More