World News and Trends: Earth's rare mineral resources running out?
Most people are somewhat familiar with the more common of the earth's mineral resources such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum. But what about rare resources such as platinum?
Most people are somewhat familiar with the more common of the earth's mineral resources such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum. But what about rare resources such as platinum?
New Scientist magazine states that "it has been estimated that if all the 500 million vehicles in use today were re-equipped with fuel cells, operating losses would mean that all the world's sources of platinum would be exhausted in 15 years. Unlike oil or diamonds, there is no synthetic alternative" (May 26, 2007). Catalytic converters that control levels of exhaust pollutants are almost completely dependent on platinum.
Although accurately estimating both levels of current use and the availability of extractable reserves of precious metals is a somewhat tricky exercise, experts in the field are expressing understandable concern. Indium is another rare metal in short supply. It is used in large quantities in making LCDs for flat-screen television sets. Likewise tantalum, a rare metal required to manufacture compact electronic cell phones and the like, is becoming scarce.
Whether the marvels of a yet undiscovered new technology can alleviate these potential shortages in sufficient time remains to be seen. (Source: New Scientist.)
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Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
