Physicists have argued over this problem since 1883. It may now be solved.

Brennan Sprinkle, assistant professor of applied mathematics and statistics, was co-author on a study that examined how a submerged lawn sprinkler would rotate if run in reverse, with the water flowing in through the sprinkler arms.
July 14, 2026

Big tech is now targeting native American land for massive data centers

An article authored by Richard Laurkie, the director of the NAMES Initiative at the Payne Institute, is referenced. The Payne article notes big tech look to native American land for data centers because there are fewer regulatory hurdles there.
July 9, 2026

America’s rare-earths solution is hiding in plain sight

This guest essay cites a Science article by Elizabeth Holley, associate professor of mining engineering, that concluded the U.S. could meet most of its critical minerals and rare earths needs by reprocessing mine waste streams.
February 6, 2026

South Carolina says PFAS-contaminated farmland should be superfund site

Christopher Higgins, professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, an early researcher of contaminants in sewage sludge, said there wasn't yet an established, cost-effective way of cleaning up a vast area of farmland contaminated with PFAS.
April 21, 2025

In a first, the E.P.A. warns of ‘forever chemicals’ in sludge fertilizer

Christopher P. Higgins, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted in this article that notes levels of PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer can pose risks that sometimes exceed EPA safety thresholds by several orders of magnitude.
January 14, 2025

The E.P.A. promotes toxic fertilizer. 3M told it of risks years ago.

Christopher P. Higgins, university distinguished professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, is cited in this article about how the EPA obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.”
December 27, 2024

China tightens its hold on minerals needed to make computer chips

“In a purely commercial sense, it has been hard to justify an investment outside of China even though there is a lot of talk,” said Roderick G. Eggert, a minerals economist at the Colorado School of Mines.
November 12, 2024

Energy Dept. Awards $6 Billion for Green Steel, Cement and Even Macaroni Factories

“It’s different from the electricity sector, where widely available alternatives to fossil fuels like wind, solar and batteries have come down dramatically in cost,” Morgan Bazilian, a professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines, said ....
March 25, 2024

Where the World Is (and Isn’t) Making Progress on Climate Change

“There aren’t many clear winners that have emerged just yet,” said Morgan Bazilian, a professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines.
November 30, 2023

Tesla’s Pickup Truck Is Coming Soon. Maybe.

“Broadly the concept could make sense,” said Kip Findley, a professor of metallurgical and materials engineering at the Colorado School of Mines who has done research on advanced steel for vehicles. “This is pushing steel development forward and ....
February 6, 2023