In a 2026 study, scientists found enough lithium and magnesium in just 0.1% of the ocean to last 50,000 years. Now, an Olympic pool of seawater exposes the huge gap between abundance and accessibility

Scientists are exploring the ocean as a potential source of critical minerals needed for batteries, electronics, vehicles, and clean-energy technologies. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers estimate that just 0.1% of Earth’s seawater contains enough magnesium and lithium to meet humanity’s needs for 50,000 years or more, if fully extracted. Yet extremely low concentrations make recovery expensive and energy intensive. Researchers are testing approaches involving magnesium hydroxide...