The US has enormous deposits of critical minerals like lithium right here at home. So why are we looking at mining the ocean floor and asteroids?

This episode was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. It was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

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A lithium recovery demonstration plant at the Salton Sea. Photo by Darco Productions.

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