Deep-sea mining: Environmental uncertainty, ‘Law of the Sea,’ and shark potatoes

In this episode, we dive into the murky, high‑stakes world of deep-sea mining — the practice of extracting valuable metals from the ocean floor. Deep-sea mining has been “just around the corner” for decades. So what’s the holdup? With the help of deep-sea ecologist Andrew Thaler and oceanography researcher Michael Dowd, we discuss what makes the deep ocean such a challenging place to operate, and unpack why polymetallic nodules have drawn so much interest, and why removing them could permanently alter ecosystems we barely understand. The episode also looks ahead, asking whether deep-sea mining is even necessary and what it could mean not just for Earth’s oceans, but for future resource extraction in places like Antarctica and the Moon. It’s a story about science, but also Victorian research ships, CIA cover stories, “shark potatoes,” and vast, untouched ecosystems. Check out Dreaming Against the Machine here or wherever you listen to podcasts.Send us your science facts, news, or other stories for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode. And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter!All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.