SME conference hits on major mining issues An iron ore industry research project that would have long-term benefits for the Iron Range is among highlights at a mining conference this week in Duluth.

The NRRI team is at the SME MN Conference in Duluth! We look forward to sharing our latest research and catching up with industry partners. See NRRI presentations throughout the conference and stop by our booth (#64) for a chat. See you at the DECC!
https://bit.ly/4cyAcFI

Left: Individuals in safety gear work on industrial machinery in a facility with "Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota" signage. Right: A person operates scientific equipment in a lab with "National Laboratory of the Rockies" signage.

NRRI and the National Laboratory of the Rockies have launched a new Joint Research Alliance IMPACT. This establishes a U.S. National Laboratory presence in MN. Together, we’re building a national platform to accelerate innovation in critical technologies.
https://bit.ly/487DX3x

DNR's Drill Core Library drives discoveries by preserving the past Three warehouses in Hibbing store core from over 20,000 holes drilled throughout Minnesota, keeping a "natural record" of the state's geology — but the DNR is running out of room.

ICYMI: Get behind the scenes at the DNR's Drill Core Library in Hibbing, MN - a natural record of the state's geology. www.kaxe.org/local-news/2026-01-21/dn...

This ‘fairyland’ bog is a beacon for winter birders – and a sponge for the climate Even when it's freezing and covered in snow, Minnesota's Sax-Zim Bog attracts birders from around the world. They flock there hoping to spot owls, hawks and rare songbirds that spend most of their tim...

How do you track elusive birds in the middle of a frozen bog? 🦉🎙️💻

Through AI-powered recording equipment and community-led conservation, MN's Sax-Zim Bog is becoming a hub for monitoring how climate change affects our ecosystems. Via @WBUR https://wbur.fm/4d6n1xo

Why moose and deer shed their antlers each winter | WTIP As winter progresses, cervids such as moose and deer begin shedding their antlers, a natural, seasonal process triggered by internal biological changes. It’s driven primarily by a post-rut drop in tes...

Friday question: Why do moose and deer shed their antlers each winter? NRRI's Ron Moen spoke with WTIP about the science and biology behind why cervids shed their antlers each winter, and how those antlers grow back again each spring. https://bit.ly/3M8q7pM

A bobcat walking under a large rock ledge in a forested area.

Why do truffles smell so good? It might be to lure a victim. 🍄🍴
New research explores the relationship between fungi and the food chain: to disperse spores, truffles don’t just rely on being eaten—they rely on their consumers being eaten by predators. https://econ.st/49QZf5m

The University of Minnesota mourns the tragic loss of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 2011 graduate of the University’s College of Liberal Arts. As a nurse, he worked in a profession rooted in care, compassion and service. Our deepest sympathies are with Alex’s family, loved ones and all who are grieving his death during this deeply painful time for our community. We recognize that many are feeling fear, sadness, anger and confusion as we navigate a complex and challenging moment in our community, our state and our country. During this time we lean on our shared values of inclusion, community, belonging and safety. We ask for care for one another and a commitment to seek understanding and healing.

The University of Minnesota mourns the tragic loss of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 2011 graduate of the University’s College of Liberal Arts. president.umn.edu/events-minne...

Minnesota's birding mecca expands reach with new tech MINNEAPOLIS - Year to year, birders document what they see perching or passing through northeast Min...

Birding gets a tech upgrade at Sax-Zim Bog. New listening devices have been installed which capture bird song 24/7, aiding in documenting and tracking species. www.mercedsunstar.com/living/article314330448....

Carnivores disperse fungi spores - The Wildlife Society Meat-based diet can help with ecosystem health

ICYMI: Research finds carnivores disperse fungi spores, aiding ecosystem health - https://wildlife.org/carnivores-disperse-fungi-spores/ #NRRI #ResearchBrief #UMNresearch

From prey to predator: how carnivores spread beneficial fungi Research shows that carnivores play an important role in ecosystem function by providing a largely overlooked mechanism for long-distance dispersal of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.

More than just predators: How carnivores keep our forests resilient.

New NRRI research reveals that carnivores act as long-distance "delivery drivers" for beneficial fungi, helping trees survive stress and disturbance.

🗞️ UMN Research Brief: https://bit.ly/4pNzqdg 📢

MagIron tests boost Plant 4 restart prospects As a native Iron Ranger and longtime iron ore and steel industry executive, Larry Lehtinen has spearheaded a number of iron-related projects on the Iron Range and beyond.

NRRI is proud to support MagIron’s continued progress and apply our research capabilities to this important work.
https://bit.ly/4p883JT

Building a Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Strategy for a Changing St. Louis River Estuary YouTube video by NERRS Science Collaborative

Partnership in action! 🤝 NRRI researchers recently presented on their work and collaborations in the St. Louis River Estuary on a webinar with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. https://youtu.be/L_lRmt2MBv0?si=I03xCkm6xDJ4rEkk

A black bear sitting against a tree trunk in a snowy forest.

NRRI wildlife researchers and partners at MN DNR have started a research project focused on how carnivores - bears, bobcats, and coyotes - are adapting to live in the built environment in/around Duluth, MN. Info on sightings requested from the public. https://nrri.umn.edu/news/duluth-carnivores

We are proud to kick off the 2025 MITI Forum this morning in Virginia, MN. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are coming together in a shared goal: to accelerate the Upper Midwest’s role in leading the next generation of industrial innovation. https://bit.ly/4oASY3G

A deer crossing sign next to a road leading through a forest with an actual deer in the background.

Talking deer collisions with University of Minnesota: Raphael Stern and NRRI's Ron Moen with the UMN Center for Transportation studies discuss how deer collisions affect MN drivers and how we can all stay safe. twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/talking-deer...

Promotional image for the North American Biochar Conference 2025, featuring logos of NABCO and the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota. Includes a website link for biocharconference.com and dates from September 15-18. Background pattern resembles stylized plant rows.

We're proud to be an exhibiting sponsor at the 2025 North American #Biochar Conference. #NRRI researchers will be presenting throughout #NABC, discussing the use of biochar in steelmaking, coal ash remediation, and stormwater management. Stop by booth 604 to learn more!

Brown: Smart forestry saves birds — and people, too "As climate change expands the range and population of pests, birds become even more important — but their population is in decline," Aaron Brown writes.

“Birds give us clues about how to interact with our environment,” said Alexis Grinde, NRRI Wildlife Ecologist. “Secret messages almost. When you unlock that ability you can see so much more." www.startribune.com/bird-loss-climate-change...

NRRI is pleased to announce that Dr. Brett Spigarelli has been appointed the new Endowed Taconite Chair. Established to advance MN’s iron ore industry, the Chair is a senior leadership position at NRRI charged with driving long-term research innovation. https://bit.ly/47bxrch

Mining created these Lake Superior black sand beaches. One’s a tourist destination, the other a Superfund site. Operations left behind uniquely colored beaches in Minnesota’s Silver Bay and Michigan’s Gay. But the materials are different.

NRRI researcher Matt Mlinar offers some background on MN iron mining for #CuriousMinnesota www.startribune.com/black-beach-silver-bay-l...

The Lakes are not okay: Wildfires Bring Long-Term Damage to Minnesota’s Waters Meteorologist Lea Zmurko reports on how wildfire smoke is impacting water quality, increasing nutrient levels, and endangering fish populations in MN.

Research shows that forest fires are leaving a lasting mark on MN lakes - elevating nutrient and sediment levels. NRRI's Chris Filstrup is studying lakes in burned watersheds to see how these changes are impacting water quality and the ecosystem.
www.wdio.com/good-morning... #NRRI #FireLakes

How Research Is Helping to Solve a Problem in the Steel Industry Trees and other biomass — which absorb CO2 — can be processed at the end of their life span into an engineered biocarbon for steelmaking.

Cally Hunt, a Biomass Process Engineer at NRRI, is featured in the MN Women's Press for her work on utilizing engineered biocarbon in the steelmaking process. www.womenspress.com/how-research...

Natural Resources Research Institute holds open house The University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute held an open house to show the public their latest projects.

We had an excellent open house last Friday afternoon at NRRI Duluth! Thanks to everyone who made it out for interesting discussion on opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries. Thanks to #WDIO for event coverage: bit.ly/46mgprw

NRRI open house will explore Industrial Transformation research UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute is inviting the public in from 2-4 p.m. Friday to see its work around Industrial Transformation.

Join us tomorrow for our public open house! Friday, July 18, 2-4pm. Tour the Duluth facility and learn about our integrated research focusing on industrial transformation. www.wdio.com/lift-online/...

Join us this Friday for NRRI's public open house!

When: Friday, July 18, 2 - 4 p.m.
Where: NRRI Duluth - 5013 Miller Trunk Highway / Hwy. 53
What: Researchers will highlight exciting opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries.
bit.ly/44QdFAb

Hot dogs and minnow traps: an effective approach to controlling invasive rusty crayfish | WTIP A pack of hot dogs and a minnow trap may seem like unlikely tools for conservation, but new research from the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth shows they can ...

Hot dogs and minnow traps: an effective approach to controlling invasive rusty crayfish >> wtip.org/hot-dogs-and...

Join us for our summer public open house!
When: Friday, July 18, 2025 from 2 - 4 p.m.
Where: NRRI Duluth - 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth MN 55811
What: Researchers will highlight opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries.

Researchers ID organisms behind algae blooms near Barker's Island By sequencing DNA from a bloom near Barker’s Island in Superior last fall, researchers linked the toxins to Microcystis aeruginosa. The Minnesota Sea Grant called it a “breakthrough discovery.”

What causes blue-green algae blooms in the Duluth-Superior Harbor? How can we predict harmful blooms? NRRI researchers and partners are one step closer to finding out: they have identified the cyanobacteria species responsible for the bloom’s toxins. bit.ly/408h2AS

Northern Minnesota forest recovering from May wildfires, but lakes could suffer for years The woods are already starting to regenerate in the area scorched by the Camp House Fire near Brimson, Minn. But researchers worry ash and fine sediment washing into lakes and streams could lead to fu...

What happens to water quality in northern lakes after a wildfire? NRRI researchers are hoping their study of recent wildfire impacts in northern MN will help land managers make informed decisions about lake and forest management after a wildfire. bit.ly/45wEiME

Wildfires could leave lakes murky for years Research that began after the 2021 Greenwood Fire seeks to understand how wildfires affect a lake’s water quality, and for how long. It also looks at what that means for mercury accumulation in fish.

When you're a limnologist you worry about lakes and water quality. NRRI's Chris Filstrup was concerned after the 2021 Greenwood Fire and quickly jumped into research mode, launching a study to find out more. This year, that work is even more important. bit.ly/4dAfRj4
#FireLakes #NRRI #LCCMR #MNENRTF

The threats wildfires pose to Minnesota's 10,000 lakes WCCO has been reporting for weeks about the impacts of the northeastern Minnesota wildfires on the ground and in the air, but new research shows it could also impact the state's waterways.

Update on the wildfires in northern MN: NRRI researcher Chris Filstrup talks to #WCCO about the impacts of wildfires on Minnesota's lakes. 🔥www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota...
#NRRI #AppliedResearch #WildfiresMN