{
  "id": 712377,
  "title": "From the mine to the grid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/from-the-mine-to-the-grid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T23:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2581325-from-the-mine-to-the-grid/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Every day, we use countless items that owe their existence to the mining industry. Smartphones, cars, and even race cars are all made possible by the minerals and metals that are extracted from deep within the earth. Komatsu, a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment, plays a crucial role in this process. Similarly, the Atlassian Williams F1 Team's FW48 race car is not just a carbon fiber shell – it is a complex machine built from a variety of advanced materials that enable its superior performance.\n\nInside the FW48, titanium is used for the halo safety structure, providing the strength needed to withstand extreme forces. Magnesium, one of the lightest metals, is used for the wheel rims to improve acceleration and handling. Iron, refined into steel, is used in fasteners, bolts, and drivetrain components to provide the necessary strength for high-load applications. The battery system at the heart of the car's electrified powertrain relies on lithium for high energy density, while copper forms the backbone of the electrical systems, carrying power and data.\n\nAluminium is used in the engine and exhaust systems to reduce overall vehicle mass and efficiently dissipate heat from critical components. Nickel alloys, which retain their strength at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, are used in the engine to ensure reliability in one of the harshest environments on the car. From the moment these materials are extracted from the earth to the moment they power the car on the racetrack, Komatsu mining machines work tirelessly to bring these resources to life.\n\nBehind every lap of the FW48 is a story of innovation, beginning deep beneath the earth and made possible by the people and mining machines of companies like Komatsu. \"As a team, we never stop finding new ways to use materials, exploring different manufacturing methods to extract every last bit of performance,\" says James Vowles, Team Principal of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team. \"Komatsu is the same, and today they operate at the cutting edge of their industry.\"",
  "summary": "How Komatsu machines help build Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s FW48",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}