News and Media

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Fragile Supply Chains Threaten U.S. Submarine Production 10/1/2026

Fragile Supply Chains Threaten U.S. Submarine Production

Payne Institute Senior Research Fellow Lieutenant Colonel Jahara Matisek, Macdonald Amoah, and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how submarine production falters when a fragile industrial base cannot deliver the specialized castings, forgings, ceramics, magnetics, steels, and acoustic coatings that nuclear safety and acoustic stealth demand.  October 1, 2026.

Fusion on the Moon 9/30/2026

Fusion on the Moon

Payne Institute Fellow William Nuttall has co-written an open access book exploring how fusion could power large scale lunar industry and settlement by 2040–2070.  The book shows how lunar conditions—vacuum, cold, helium 3—could make fusion more viable than on Earth.  September 30, 2026.

Global Inventory of Advanced Rare Earth Element Assets 9/29/2026

Global Inventory of Advanced Rare Earth Element Assets

Payne Institute Fellow Andrew Gulley and Graham Lederer write about how the status of rare earth assets around the globe is changing rapidly.  The Global Inventory, date-stamped April 2026, summarizes: operational rare earth element (REE) assets, mine projects with reported resources or reserves, mine projects that have received significant U.S. government funding, and advanced facilities for processing, cracking, separation, smelting, metallization, alloying, and magnet production.  September 29, 2026.

No relief in sight as diesel prices hit record highs 9/27/2026

No relief in sight as diesel prices hit record highs

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Fellow Jamie Webster write about how diesel fuel prices in the U.S. continue to break all-time records, hitting $6.28 a gallon as a national average on Sept. 14, 2026, and they aren’t likely to come down anytime soon.  September 27, 2026.

Payne Institute’s State of Critical Minerals report lays out steps to secure U.S. and Allied supply chains 9/24/2026

Payne Institute’s State of Critical Minerals report lays out steps to secure U.S. and Allied supply chains

The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines’ new report, The State of Critical Minerals Report 2026, highlights the fundamental and growing role of U.S and allied governments in ensuring success on critical minerals security.  September 24, 2026.

THE STATE OF CRITICAL MINERALS REPORT 2026 9/24/2026

The State of Critical Minerals Report 2026

The Payne Institute for Public Policy has released its fourth annual State of Critical Minerals Report. These reports, which accompany our annual symposium, seek to provide insights into the complex and deeply interconnected topics surrounding critical minerals. September 24, 2026.

From magnets to high-tech steel and nuclear fuel recycling, Mines researchers drive innovation in how we use critical minerals 9/24/2026

From magnets to high-tech steel and nuclear fuel recycling, Mines researchers drive innovation in how we use critical minerals

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Jenifer Shafer is featured in this article about how critical minerals are ultimately deemed critical for one reason: They’re essential to the fabrication and manufacturing of important products.   September 24, 2026.

Forging the Undersea Arsenal: How to Build the Autonomous Fleet the US Navy needs to Compete 9/21/2026

Forging the Undersea Arsenal: How to Build the Autonomous Fleet the US Navy needs to Compete

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian, Fellow Alex Gilbert, and Senior Research Fellow Jahara Matisek write about how autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) will reshape seabed warfare, subsea competition, and maritime force design by distributing sensing, extending operational reach, absorbing risk, and providing cheap undersea mass against much more expensive systems.   September 21, 2026.

Is “Dr. Copper” becoming less reliable? 9/21/2026

Is “Dr. Copper” becoming less reliable?

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributed to this article about how the price of copper usually tells us a lot about the future of global economic growth. But recent developments could make it less accurate as an economic indicator.  September 21, 2026.

‘Just a big rock pile’: St. Mary’s Glacier has melted 9/18/2026

‘Just a big rock pile’: St. Mary’s Glacier has melted

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Matthew Siegfried contributed to this article about how St. Mary’s Glacier has fully melted for the first time on record. The glacier, which is not technically a glacier but a semi-permanent snowfield since it no longer flows, was a victim of the abnormally dry winter and exceptionally hot summer.   September 18, 2026.

In Rural Illinois, Residents Protest a First-of-its-kind Agreement to Power Data Centers With Natural Gas + Carbon Capture and Sequestration 9/17/2026

In Rural Illinois, Residents Protest a First-of-its-kind Agreement to Power Data Centers With Natural Gas + Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Payne Institute Geothermal and Low Carbon Technologies Program Manager Anna Littlefield contributed to this article about how Google struck a deal with Broadwing Energy and Big Ag processor ADM. But with recent carbon leaks still fresh, locals oppose the project.  September 17, 2026.

Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon 9/17/2026

Iran war pushes diesel – the economy’s lifeblood – to record high prices, with no relief on the horizon

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Fellow Jamie Webster write about how diesel fuel prices in the U.S. continue to break all-time records, hitting $6.28 a gallon as a national average on Sept. 14, 2026, and they aren’t likely to come down anytime soon. September 17, 2026.

Pentagon Math Over Physics 9/17/2026

Pentagon Math Over Physics

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Chris Bronk write about what a fork in the road of advanced cryptography means for protecting national security communications. September 17, 2026.

The Payne Institute experts are regional, national, and international leaders in applied research in natural resources, energy, and the environment. Our team is involved in a wide variety of research projects in these fields, and are committed to sharing these results with academic and professional audiences.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, viewpoints, or official policies of the Payne Institute or Colorado School of Mines.