The race to develop new forms of clean energy is heating up, and Japan has taken the lead with a groundbreaking innovation—scientists have developed the world’s first titanium-based solar panel.

The mining of titanium has a greater urgency than ever, here in Irshansk. The electricity that powers the vast machines is only sometimes on for three hours a day. But resources like titanium are ...

Image: One of Ukraine's open-pit titanium mines As if borrowed from the set of Star Wars, a colossal rectangular metal box, fitted with a long metallic arm, chain and gigantic scoop, gouges out ...