Do you know what your phone is made of – and where this material comes from? In this episode of Why Do You Study That?, Duke environmental scientist Avner Vengosh takes us on a journey around the world to track critical minerals. Metals like lithium and cobalt are crucial to keep the modern electrified world humming along, but we rarely think about where they come from. Vengosh and his lab at Duke University use “chemical fingerprinting” to distinguish where critical minerals originate, especially trying to flag sources with reported dangerous working conditions. On the positive side, understanding these different sources opens the possibility for finding new geology – including in the United States – to expand the resources available domestically. Collaborating with researchers across Duke, Vengosh is exploring the supply chain and use of critical minerals as part of Duke Critical Minerals Hub. Learn more: • Vengosh Lab: sites.nicholas.duke.edu/avnervengosh • Critical Min...