City of Duluth crews paired up with @UMNNRRI to plant fast-growing #InnovaTrees recently in West Duluth! Developed at at NRRI, these non-GMO hybrid poplars can grow up to 10 ft/year - rapidly bringing back street shade lost to Emerald Ash Borer. https://bit.ly/4yC0QGx

NRRI tests InnovaTrees in Duluth to restore urban canopy

Crews planted 25 InnovaTrees along South 59th Avenue West Wednesday morning to replace trees lost to emerald ash borer.

northernnewsnow.com

Proud moment for the Iron Range & MN! Congratulations to Mesabi Metallics, MN’s iron industry, and the communities & workers who have sustained it for generations. We look forward to supporting the future of American iron & steel through research, testing & partnership. https://cnb.cx/4e1SekV

Trump to announce plan for $15 billion steel plant, would be largest in U.S. history

Trump's announcement with Mesabi Metallics comes as Americans' souring views of the economy are poised to shape the upcoming midterm election.

cnbc.com

Historically rare in Lake Superior, toxic blue-green algal blooms are becoming more frequent as water conditions shift and temperatures rise. These blooms can pose real risks to pets, people, and ecosystems. Read more: https://bit.ly/4xLhqDr

Experts urge swift action to address harmful algal blooms on Lake Superior

U.S. and Canadian experts are urging government agencies to take swift action to address the threats posed by more frequent harmful algal blooms on Lake Superior.

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Unlocking potential on MN’s Iron Range: A new federal research project at NRRI's Coleraine facility aims to upgrade underused iron ore into higher-value products for next-gen steelmaking. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4diw3H9 #NRRI #IronoftheFuture

NRRI research project aims to unlock value from underused Iron Range ore

COLERAINE — A new federal research project at the University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute will bring new pilot-scale equipment and additional research positions to its Coleraine...

grandrapidsmn.com

Once thought immune, Lake Superior is now experiencing growing threats from algal blooms. Researchers are calling for action and a coordinated bi-national response to protect its waters. https://bit.ly/4d8jEp9

Lake Superior algal bloom threat leads to call for action

Blooms of potentially toxic blue-green algae in the waters of Lake Superior have led to a call for action to counter threats to human health and the regional economy.

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Check out this video of how scientists are tracking unprecedented cyanobacteria blooms across Lake Superior and what it means for the future of the Great Lakes. It highlights complex issues with harmful algal blooms, and recommendations to address them. https://bit.ly/4iOFQrO

From lake to table: Northern Minnesotans are turning the invasive rusty crayfish into a local delicacy. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/09/09/invasive-crayfish-turned-into-a-delicacy #NRRIresearch #InvasiveSpecies

From lake to table: Turning Minnesota's invasive crayfish into a local delicacy

Rusty crayfish have invaded more than 300 northern Minnesota lakes. Can Midwestern appetites help manage a destructive invasive species?

mprnews.org

Writers & science communicators—this one's for you! NRRI is looking for an experienced storyteller to join their team in Duluth, MN. Details on our website: https://nrri.umn.edu/employment-opportunities

Lake Superior's cold waters were thought to keep harmful algae at bay, but unprecedented cyanobacteria blooms are changing that. On Tuesday, Great Lakes experts met at UW-Superior to map out a plan to protect the world's largest freshwater lake. https://bit.ly/46jZd4C

Scientists sound the alarm for growing algae blooms in Lake Superior

Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, but atypical algae blooms have been appearing that scientists once thought were not possible due to the lake's colder waters.

bit.ly

Great Lakes scientists are hosting a public event tonight on harmful blue-green algal blooms in Lake Superior. Event details in link: https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2026/09/04/great-lakes-scientists-call-action-blue-green-algae-problem-grows-lake-superior/

Great Lakes scientists call for action as blue-green algae problem grows in Lake Superior

Experts say the blue-green algae is an early warning sign that the health of Lake Superior could be declining.

northernnewsnow.com

We're proud to partner with NLR in the IMPACT alliance. Through the Joint Research Alliance for Innovative Materials and Processing for Advanced Critical Technologies, we're accelerating industry-scale innovation and process demonstration. Read more: https://bit.ly/4glghgo

The future of steelmaking is evolving—and Minnesota’s Iron Range is positioned to lead it. Reporter Brian Martucci breaks down the new tech and mining business shaping the next few decades. Story link: https://bit.ly/4x2yw06 📸 Erica Dischino

UMN's NRRI has launched a new Direct Reduced Iron simulator—about 20x larger than standard test models—to help de-risk iron refining innovations for MN’s mining industry. Details from #KAXE: https://bit.ly/4fUU87k

A new national study finds 84% of U.S. coastal wetlands are submerging as rising seas outpace sediment buildup. The good news? 73% may still have space to migrate inland with smart land management and protection. Full findings from @theAGU: https://bit.ly/4pWkDOl

Rising seas are swallowing the vast majority of US coastal wetlands

A national-level study in the AGU journal Earth’s Future reveals that coastal wetlands — among the country’s most valuable ecosystems, protecting infrastructure and providing homes for wildlife — are ...

news.agu.org

Can wildfire smoke impact the fish in Minnesota's lakes? A look into how forest fires release stored mercury into watersheds—and what that means for local water quality and wildlife. https://www.startribune.com/curious-minnesota-fish-mercury-levels-wildfire-smoke/601845898

How do wildfires impact fish mercury levels in Minnesota lakes?

As fires become more prevalent, scientists are just beginning to study their impact on the state’s aquatic ecosystems.

startribune.com

Join our team. NRRI is hiring a Senior Research Scientist in Mineral Processing & Metallurgy. This is a principal Investigator research position responsible for the genesis, planning, oversight and execution of one or more complex research programs. https://nrri.umn.edu/employment-opportunities

NRRI unveiled the Direct Reduced Iron Simulator in Coleraine yesterday. This globally unique platform lets steelmakers replicate real-world shaft furnace conditions, test feedstocks, and de-risk investments. Thank you to all our partners who made it happen! Read more: https://bit.ly/4w6H7xr

University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute Unveils First-of-Its-Kind DRI Simulator to Future-Proof Domestic Steel Production

The facility equips Minnesota to lead the evolution of domestic industrial manufacturing.

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We are hiring in our minerals and metallurgy programs! • Sr. Research Scientist – Mineral Processing & Metallurgy • Assoc. Research Scientist – Mineral Processing & Metallurgy • Post-Doc – High Temp Extractive Metallurgy Find out more: https://bit.ly/4vz8M9W #hiring #NRRI

Because of the current air quality conditions across Minnesota, the NRRI Duluth Open House scheduled for today, Friday, July 17, is canceled. We place the health of our employees and our guests first. We will announce a reschedule date in the future. Thank you for your support!

⚠️ EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE ⚠️ Because of the current air quality conditions in NE Minnesota, the NRRI Duluth Open House on Friday, July 17, is cancelled. We place the health of our employees and our guests first. We will announce a reschedule date in the future. Thank you!

Explore, Learn, Connect:  Join us for the annual NRRI Duluth Public Open House – Friday July 17, 2-4pm. https://nrri.umn.edu/news/open-house-2026 #Summerfest #NRRI #Duluth #Hermantown

We're kicking off the MITI FORUM: Twin Cities today. Looking forward to engaging conversation on industrial transformation and what it will take to move from strategy into real-world deployment! #MITI #industrialtransformation https://nrri.umn.edu/miti/miti-events

Explore, Learn, Connect:  Join us for the annual NRRI Duluth Public Open House – Friday July 17, 2-4pm. https://nrri.umn.edu/news/open-house-2026 #Summerfest #NRRI #Duluth #Hermantown

It’s the Most Famous Algae in the World. And It Has a Fan Club. NRRI's Senior Research Associate Euan Reavie discusses the science behind the ongoing algae bloom at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with #Slate. https://bit.ly/4p2WRje

There’s a Silver Lining to the Reflecting Pool Fiasco

Actually, it's green!

bit.ly

We are facing a global helium shortage, and it impacts more than birthday parties. It threatens MRIs, quantum computing, and AI semiconductor manufacturing. But a massive helium discovery in Minnesota's Iron Range might just change that. https://to.pbs.org/4ox10LK

In Business | Minnesota’s Massive Helium Discovery | Season 2026

A massive, game-changing natural resource discovery is unfolding right in America's backyard.

to.pbs.org

From Strategy to Deployment: The Future of Industrial Transformation - Join the MITI Forum Twin Cities to connect with leaders and partners to shape MN's industrial future. 07/09/2026 @ The Lowlands, St Paul, MN - Reg required. RSVP: https://nrri.umn.edu/miti/miti-events

Industrial transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about ownership, resilience, and who benefits from the systems we build. It is inspiring to see MN Tribal Nations leading the way in community-owned energy. https://bit.ly/3SmDchF

Minnesota tribal nations continue steps toward energy independence

Two Minnesota tribes recently announced big solar array projects aimed to help them establish energy independence.

mprnews.org

Could natural clay halt toxic algae blooms? UMN researchers aim to find out. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/31/minnesota-researchers-test-if-clay-could-halt-toxic-algae-blooms #NRRI #Cyanobacteria #WaterQuality #UMN

Could clay halt toxic algae blooms? Minnesota researchers aim to find out

Clay is widely used as a treatment method in other countries, but it hasn’t gotten much attention in the U.S. Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are prop...

mprnews.org

Work with purpose at NRRI. Positions open now. https://nrri.umn.edu/employment-opportunities

How do wildfires impact the pristine lakes of Northern Minnesota? 🔥🛶 NRRI researchers are diving into the water quality of our northern lakes to see how they recover after major fires like the Greenwood Fire, and what it means for these ecosystems: https://bit.ly/4frQPpg