US burned through up to 80% of THAAD missiles in Iran War: Now the Pentagon is spending $35B to restock

Article notes the Payne Institute for Public Policy estimate that 198 THAAD missiles were fired early in the Iran War. Another estimate puts the number of missiles fired at 290 at a cost of $4.5 billion.
June 25, 2026

Iran War supplemental: Pentagon requests $87.6B as munitions stockpiles run low

The article notes the Payne Institute for Public Policy estimates that U.S. forces fired approximately 198 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors in the first 16 days of the Iran War.
June 25, 2026

Halogen bonding makes its debut in a permanently porous framework

Michael McGuirk, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, led this study that demonstrated the first permanently porous halogen-bonded framework.
June 24, 2026

How artificial intelligence data centers are reshaping the regulatory architecture of U.S. electricity

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, argues for verified large-load governance of AI, including milestone-based forecasting, cost-causation tariffs, flexible service classes, operational visibility, and coordinated ....
June 23, 2026

How China turned the Strait of Hormuz crisis into an advantage

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, notes that China spent decades building energy resilience through stockpiles, manufacturing dominance, and strategic partnerships.
June 23, 2026

US scientist offers PNG new tech to find copper, nickel faster using fine soil particles

Aaron Goodman, research assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, explains it's helpful to examine fine particles in soil and stream sediments when looking for copper, nickel and other critical minerals.
June 23, 2026

We visited Colorado’s only active volcano

Wendy Bohrson, professor of geology and geological engineering, and PhD candidate Valerie Strasser took CPR on a tour of Dotsero Crater in Eagle County.
June 22, 2026

The college with the highest-earning graduates in every US state

Business Insider identified the 34 US colleges with the highest-paid graduates four years after completing their degrees across all US states, based on Department of Education data. In Colorado, Mines' graduates had the highest pay.
June 12, 2026

SpaceX's ambitious plans depend on achieving reusability

George Sowers, professor of practice in mechanical engineering, said Falcon 9 has achieved launch rates that, in the past, were only dreamed of. He added, however, that he's concerned about Starship’s recurring engine issues.
June 12, 2026

If America is ‘energy independent,’ why does Iran still affect gas prices?

Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, said the term "energy independence" is favored by politicians while energy policy experts prefer to focus on the more useful phrases "energy security" and "energy affordability."
June 10, 2026

Rare earth recovery: DOE injects $134M into mining waste projects

The DOE funding for this mine waste project is split between Mines, which received $67 million for a specialized facility in Louisiana, and Phoenix Tailings, which was awarded $66 million to advance its proprietary metal-recovery technology.
June 8, 2026

Federal subsidies for coal plants may not save struggling sector, analysts say

Ian Lange, Viola Vestal Coulter Chair of Mineral Economics at the Colorado School of Mines, said that even with the help of subsidies coal is likely to continue to struggle as it competes with natural gas.
June 8, 2026