Thar’s minerals in them thar seas!

Mining companies are clamoring for rights to exploit the vast Pacific Ocean for manganese, copper, cobalt and other minerals needed to make smartphones and other ubiquitous electronic devices. At least 12 mining exploration claims have been secured for a swath that begins several hundred miles south of Hawaii called the Clarion Clipperton fracture zone, for example.

Before this unprecedented era of undersea mining begins, the United States and other countries must establish environmental protections, lest irreplaceable marine ecosystems be destroyed. University of Hawaii scientists working with the International Seabed Authority, a U.N. agency, helped create no-mining zones within the international waters to preserve biodiversity. But those protections are provisional, and set to expire in a few years. It’s imperative to develop ongoing protections now, before permanent damage is done.

My, my, my … Maemae Elementary comes in first

Kudos to all the students, and their supportive adults, who participated in this year’s Hawaii FIRST LEGO League State Championships. Saturday’s robotics finale was the culmination of competitions that, along the way, involved more than 7,000 students on 530 teams statewide, from preschool through high school, public and private schools.

Special shout-outs go to the Champion’s Award winner, Maemae Elementary School’s Dolphinators; and the runner-up for that award, Shafter Elementary School’s ShafterBots.