🔋18M tons of lithium worth $540B unearthed in the US, UAV-killer drone concept, gene-edited pig liver works in human

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Beneath California’s Salton Sea surface lies a massive discovery that could redefine the US’ clean energy future.

Scientists have identified an astonishing 18 million tons of lithium—valued at $540 billion—buried beneath the murky waters of the state’s largest lake. Dubbed “white gold,” this find has the potential to revolutionize the U.S. battery industry and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign lithium imports.

However, extracting this critical resource comes with its share of challenges, from environmental risks to geopolitical considerations. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

🔋 US hits lithium jackpot: 18M tons worth $540B found underground

The Salton Sea, situated in Southern California’s Imperial County, now holds one of the largest lithium brine deposits in the world.

A study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy revealed that the lake contains far more lithium than previously estimated—18 million tons compared to an earlier figure of 4 million tons.

To put that into perspective, this amount of lithium could power batteries for 382 million electric vehicles, surpassing the total number of cars currently on American roads.

𖥂 Airbus unveils UAV-killer drone concept eyeing battlefield dominance

A new anti-drone drone concept has been unveiled by Airbus. The Low-Cost Air Defense (LOAD) system is a type of an adapted target drone that will be armed with small air-to-air missiles.

Designed to down enemy uncrewed aerial vehicles, the reusable system comprises a modified Do-DT25 drone equipped with up to three guided missiles.

The weapon is claimed to be a cost-effective solution to hit enemy UAVs. The company maintains that LOAD systems can be manufactured faster compared to other attack drones.

🐖 China makes history as gene-edited pig liver works 10 days in human

Scientists have announced that they successfully maintained the function of a genetically modified pig liver for a brief duration.

In a 50-year-old brain-dead recipient, the transplanted liver survived and performed basic functions for more than a week. Reportedly, it is said that this surgery was the first successful pig liver transplant into a human. The surgery was done at the Xijing Hospital in Xi’an.

Medical experts transplanted a pig liver derived from a Bama miniature pig — a breed commonly used in research. The liver was modified with six gene edits to avoid immune rejection.

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