Seabed mining: The next frontier or the next disaster?

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Harvesting critical minerals from the ocean bottom — five kilometers below the surface — is the newest frontier. The minerals found in rocks on the ocean floor are the lifeblood of solar, wind and electric batteries. But what do we know about the ocean bottom? Does anything live there? David McKie, with the help of some experts, explores the issues around seabed mining. How important is it to the efforts to stop using fossil fuels? Can it be done without damaging the seabed? And with companies ready to start harvesting, do we know enough about the risks to the underwater ecosystem?

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