Yes, Superman's kryptonite is (sort of) real
In 2004, workers at a drill site in Serbia's Jadar Valley extracted a white, earthy silicate material unlike any previously documented mineral. Subsequent analysis from the Natural History Museum in London and Canada's National Research Council confirmed its unique composition, and in 2006, experts announced jadarite to the world. As luck would have it, Lex Luthor stole a sample of kryptonite labeled with jadarite's almost exact ingredients in that summer's Superman blockbuster.
Jadarite doesn't glow or weaken Kryptonian heroes—although it does glow pinkish-orange under UV light. Regardless, it may still become a powerful tool for Earthlings transitioning away from fossil fuels. As Australia's National Science Agency explains, jadarite contains significant amounts of the rare earth elements lithium and boron. Lithium is a key ingredient in reusable electric batteries, while boron is often integrated into various alloys and ceramic glasses.
'Unlike many new mineral discoveries, which are often brought to light under the microscope and contain unusual combinations of rare elements, jadarite occurs as a multi-million tonne deposit and is composed of common elements,' the National Science Agency reports.
In 2021, the United States Geological Survey estimated a hypothetical mine at the site could supply about 1.51 percent of the world's lithium demand. The jadarite in Serbia remains the only known deposit of its kind, making it a highly desired piece of property. But like kryptonite, jadarite has its downsides.
Rare earth mines have come under increasing scrutiny from international regulators, scientists, environmentalists, and local communities due to their potential harmful effects on surrounding regions. In 2020, for example, the Rio Tinto mining company drew international condemnation after destroying a Western Australian cave site previously used by Indigenous peoples for over 46,000 years. Watchdogs have also highlighted numerous rare earth mine sites across China for labor violations, water pollution, and other ecological concerns.
Jadar Valley is no exception. Although Rio Tinto revealed plans to begin construction on a jadarite mine in 2017, environmental reviews concluded the operation would consume massive amounts of water, as well as leach various acids and chemicals into around 4,900 acres of arable land. The reports also cited underground water salinization and river pollution. In 2022, Serbia announced the project's cancellation following waves of mass protests.
Jadarite's future influence on Earth's energy industry remains uncertain. Like kryptonite, its potential is both promising and problematic. And with no Superman to intervene on our behalf, it'll be up to humans to determine the best way forward.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Fantastic Four' in theaters, rent 'Materialists,' stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix and more
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" shows that "Superman" was the start of a new trend. Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Brett Arnold, film critic and longtime Yahoo editor, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This week, there are a handful of movies coming to streaming services you're likely already paying for, including Wes Anderson's latest, an indie gem about baseball and a fun self-aware horror flick. The biggest new release is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the latest attempt at making the Marvel characters pop onscreen with a buzzy new A-list cast, including Pedro Pascal. If you're looking for more Pascal, make it a double feature: His rom-dram Materialists is available to rent. Read on for more, because there's something here for everyone! What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have 🎥What to watch in theaters My recommendation: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Why you should watch it: The Fantastic Four: First Steps proves that James Gunn's Superman wasn't a one-off and instead was the start of an emerging trend of superhero movies. Both are comic book flicks that are meant to be introduction films, as well as reboots featuring iconic characters we've already seen onscreen before. They both purposefully avoid harping much on a character's origin story. The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts it very quickly up top, whereas Superman throws you right into the action. Both rely on the audience knowing who these people are and what they do without getting bogged down by lore. That being said, each movie is meant to emulate the experience of reading a comic book, picking up an issue and getting caught up in that one arc without having to worry about its place in the larger universe. The best thing about The Fantastic Four: First Steps is that it doesn't adhere to the Marvel house style and has a unique look that's decidedly its own: a retro-futuristic take on the 1960s that feels as indebted to The Jetsons as it does the comic books its based on. Superman opened with Clark Kent having already been Superman for three years, and First Steps similarly opens with our heroes celebrating four years as America's superhero protectors. The public knows who they are and appreciates their efforts to keep them safe. But Marvel's First Family is soon forced to balance their roles as heroes and the strength of their family bond while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). 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If I have a major complaint, it's that the Fantastic Four's powers are never really utilized in a way that feels specific to each character. It's all just generic superhero zipping around and shooting forceful beams out of their hands. The wildly specific skillsets all feel incidental here, rather than expertly written and woven into the narrative or the action. The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bacharach is terrific as the voice of the Thing, but the character feels like he has little to do here, and the entirely CGI creation of his being pales in comparison to the onscreen depiction 20 years ago, when Michael Chiklis was transformed into the character with extensive makeup. Joseph Quinn is fun as Johnny Storm, but he too just flies around while on fire. 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It's ripping off The Blair Witch Project for most of the runtime, until it gets to the third act and imitates a different popular horror movie. It doesn't amount to much, sadly. Get tickets. 💸Movies newly available to rent or buy My recommendation: Why you should watch it: You can get a double helping of Pedro Pascal this weekend, if you're into that sort of thing, as the controversial Materialists is now watchable from your couch. As I wrote when it debuted in theaters, it disappoints in comparison to Past Lives, writer-director Celine Song's debut film, and the script ultimately lets down the actors, even if the performances are all very good. What other critics are saying: There are strong opinions on both sides here. Stephanie Zacharek at Time writes that it's "more bittersweet than sweet, which is what makes it so wonderful, in a wistful, elusive way." 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Rolling Stone's David Fear writes, "She's not better than the movie. Deadwyler just makes the movie better by every choice she's making as an actor." Amy Nicholson at the Los Angeles Times agrees, writing that "there's not one false beat in Deadwyler's performance." How to watch: 40 Acres is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy '40 Acres' 🤔 But that's not all! : This is a horror movie about a serial killer whose method of killing is feeding his victims to sharks. I wish I didn't have to tell you that because the opening scene is such a shocking introduction, but the trailer gives it away immediately. It's still absolutely worth watching, if that sounds like your kind of thing. Rent or buy. Disney's live-action remake became the first and only movie to gross $1 billion this year, and now you can help it make more money by paying to rent it! As per usual with these things, it's not as nice to look at as the animated original, but it gets the job done. Rent or buy. 📺Movies newly available on streaming services you may have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: My colleague Kelsey Weekman was lucky enough to catch it early, and her review is below! What I at first thought was a depressingly obvious cash grab involving one of Adam Sandler's most beloved characters turned out to be a shockingly sweet (and still very funny) follow-up about the lengths even the biggest weirdos will go to for family. Nearly 30 years after the original came out, I wasn't sure how many more times they could turn hitting a golf ball so hard it makes rocket launcher noises into an effective gag, but thanks to some new characters who kept it true to the Sandler ethos (loud, ridiculous, playfully violent), it felt like a truly fresh franchise installment rather than a ham-handed appeal to nostalgia. 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If you're into low-budget stuff buoyed by great practical FX work and better-than-average performances, check it out. How to watch: Monster Island is now streaming on Shudder. Stream 'Monster Island' 🤔 But that's not all! The latest film from Wes Anderson is a decidedly silly one. Imagine the usual Andersonian look and feel, now with cartoonish violence, and a terrific performance from Benicio Del Toro at its center. I wrote more about it here. Now streaming on Peacock. This quietly profound indie about a baseball team playing their last-ever game functions as a metaphor about life and the eventual bitter end of the things we love. How can you not be romantic about baseball?! I wrote more here. Now streaming on Mubi. This horror flick based on a popular video game leans more Cabin in the Woods send-up than earnest horror, and fans of the genre will enjoy the way it plays with conventions. Now streaming on Netflix. 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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Video: Golden Retriever Puppy Has Several Unique Ways to Lie on the Couch
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Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
For Superman, sequels are kryptonite
James Gunn's pointedly bright, colorful, canine-forward new movie, 'Superman,' is the second launch in a dozen years of a new shared cinematic universe wherein the superhero in chief is gradually — or in this case, immediately — surrounded by other DC Comics heroes. This summer's big tentpole from DC's rival, Marvel Studios, 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' is proof enough that while DC has struggled to match Marvel's success building a multifilm series spotlighting even its C- and D-list superheroes, Marvel's page-to-screen track record is far from what a comic book collector would call mint. The Pedro Pascal- and Vanessa Kirby-starring 'First Steps,' which opened Thursday, is the fourth attempt to launch a Fantastic Four movie franchise since 1994.