Microbes vs. the Copper Crunch: A New Way to Feed an Electrified World

As demand for EVs and green energy rises, traditional copper mining has hit a wall. This episode of Primer explores how biomining uses microbes to extract metals, offering a potential path to keep an increasingly electrified world running. The video examines the pressures building on copper supply as electrification accelerates, and explains how microorganisms can be deployed to recover metals in ways conventional mining struggles to match. It connects the science of biomining to the practical challenge of meeting rising copper demand. For viewers following the energy transition, the episode frames biomining as one possible answer to a tightening metals market. A link to the full Bloomberg video is included for further viewing, along with subscription and access options for Bloomberg's coverage.