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https://www.sciencealert.com/the-world-could-soon-run-out-of-a-crucial-resource-and-very-little-is-being-done-about-it>
"The world is dealing with a lot right now. The climate is rapidly
warming, the oceans are growing dangerously acidic, a sixth extinction
is officially unfolding, and all the while the threat of nuclear war
hangs imminent.
But there's another crisis on the horizon you might have never heard of.
And if the world continues to ignore it, scientists say it could cause
global catastrophe for the next generation.
Phosphorous is an essential mineral for all plants and animals on Earth,
and that includes humans. A building block for DNA, this basic resource
allows living cells to transfer energy, and when it's mined from
phosphate ore, it can be added to fertilisers to increase agricultural
production.
The problem is, phosphorous is not a renewable element, and there are
currently no known substitutes and very few areas in which it is mined.
As the world chews through ever greater amounts, our dwindling supply of
this raw material grows ever more pressing."
Via jagtar singh lakhyan and Jennifer Freeman.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
