Norway is one of the first countries to formally authorize seabed mining activities in its waters after its parliament backed plans in January to prospect for minerals.
Composed of manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt and other trace minerals, polymetallic nodules hold some of the key ingredients needed to fuel the energy transition.
Manganese-doped germanium telluride could eventually lead to computers that need less than one millionth of the currently required energy to switch a bit, according to new research.
US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the world is up against a dominant supplier of critical minerals willing to exploit its position for political gain.