There are disputed reports of another massive landslide at the infamous mining site, with over 200 deaths being described by eye-witnesses. There are reports this morning that another devastating landslide has occurred at the Rubaya coltran mining site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an area controlled by a rebel group, M23, […]
mining
Posted inNews
Engineering a Cleaner Way to Extract Lithium
The new chemical solvent technique could cut water use, speed extraction, and unlock reserves like California’s Salton Sea.
Posted inFeatures
Salt of the Earth: Vast Underground Salt Caverns Are Preserving Our History—and Just Might Power Our Future
From health spas to film storage, salt mine caverns have been put to use in surprising ways—and they’re now poised to contribute to the generation and storage of clean energy.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Making a Map to Make a Difference
A new study highlights the partnership between scientists and nonscientist community members in building an interactive GIS map to show flooding risk in a Superfund site.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How the Spring Thaw Influences Arsenic Levels in Lakes
Four lakes near Yellowknife, Canada, show that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 28 January 2026 landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Landslide Blog is written by Dave Petley, who is widely recognized as a world leader in the study and management of landslides. Whilst I was skiing in the French Alps last week, there were a couple of significant landslides. The highest profile event was the vast and intriguing landslide at Niscemi in Sicily (located […]
Posted inResearch & Developments
Trump Administration to Speed Up Permitting for Deep Sea Mining, Even Beyond U.S. Boundaries
NOAA has finalized a rule that will expedite the permit and license application process for deep seabed mining and allow companies to mine beyond U.S. jurisdictional boundaries.
Posted inReport
The State of the Science 1 Year On: Environment
Administration policies have eliminated funding sources, review processes, and pollution limits designed to protect the nation’s land, water, and air.
Posted inReport
The State of the Science 1 Year On: Health and Safety
The Trump administration has holistically reevaluated the government’s relationship—and how it responds to threats— to the health and welfare of its citizens.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Full Planet imagery of the 4 November 2025 landslide at Mae Moh Mine in Thailand
Over the weekend, Planet captured near-perfect images of the Mae Moh Mine landslide in Thailand. Last week, I posted a set of Planet satellite images that captured most of the 4 November 2025 landslide at Mae Moh Mine in Thailand. However, there was considerable cloud in the imagery, which prevented a full understanding of the […]