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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists have discovered that the Salar de Atacama, one of the world's largest lithium reserves in Chile, is slowly sinking
• This phenomenon is linked to lithium extraction, where brine pumping causes soil subsidence of 1-2 cm per year
🔭 The context: Lithium extraction, crucial for batteries and the energy transition, is intensive in water use—90% of which evaporates during the process
• Researchers used satellite-based InSAR technology to measure surface deformation, raising concerns about the environmental impacts on both ecosystems and species like flamingos
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: As demand for lithium grows to power the green transition, this discovery emphasizes the need for sustainable extraction methods to prevent long-term damage to critical ecosystems
⏭️ What's next: The study suggests that further research and monitoring are needed for sustainable lithium extraction, particularly in other salt flats across the Andes, which may face similar risks
💬 One quote: “We need to work together and with everything we have available to try to understand its nature and the impacts that man can generate on the ecosystem,” says lead researcher Joaquin Castillo.
📈 One stat: Global lithium production reached 180,000 metric tons in 2023
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