Fungi may have an important role to play in the fate of potentially dangerous depleted uranium left in the environment after recent war campaigns, according to a new report in the May 6th issue of Current Biology, a publication of Cell Press.

Rising energy and environmental costs may prevent nuclear power from being a sustainable alternative energy source in the fight against global warming, according to a study in the April 1 issue of ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal.

By James West

The market has been unkind to junior resource stocks for the last several months, but it has reserved special treatment for uranium juniors, whose management are sounding increasingly depressed and suicidal. The reason is plain to see – the price of uranium is heading south in a hurry, and that has many investors asking, “What exactly is the condition of uranium fundamentals now?”

Aesop, the ancient Greek fabulist, was known for his kernels of wisdom – usually aimed at children. He advised that “it is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow,” and suggested that rewards come when you “put your shoulder to the wheel”. Even though the mining business is hardly child’s play, it’s obvious that Tribune Uranium Corp’s (TSX.V:TCB) management has integrated this age-old advice into its vision as it looks forward to a year of steady growth.

With money jingling in its pocket, Universal Power Corp. (TSX.V:UNX, FSE:3U2A) is ready to start exploring both in Africa and also a world away in northern Canada.

The first results from this year’s exploration are telling Goldcliff Resource Corporation (TSX.V: GCN) that the historical Hedley gold district still has plenty of life left in it.

When it comes to uranium exploration in Labrador, few companies boast the scale and scope of Silver Spruce Resources’ (TSX.V: SSE) Central Mineral Belt project (CMB).

With the spot price of uranium climbing through $93/lb (again), and a shortage of sulphuric acid in Kazakhstan – the chemical necessary for the leaching process that isolates U3O8 from ore – likely to compound demand, there is every indicator that uranium prices will climb sharply (again) in the coming months. And despite recent seismic shifts for gold and precious metals, most analysts project the bull markets for precious and base metals will continue to snowball.

Vancouver-based Blue Sky Uranium Corp. (TSX.V: BSK), barely out of the starting gate, makes no bones about its international ambitions.

Coupled with ever greater resources being devoted to mitigating climate change and significantly cutting back global greenhouse emissions, junior uranium explorers such as Vancouver’s Atomic Minerals Ltd. (TSX.V:ATL) are raising capital and gearing up to follow through on ambitious acquisition and development plans.

No, we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto, but we are at the scene of a whirlwind of activity along the southern margin of the Athabasca Basin, where Tribune Uranium Corp (TSX.V:TCB) has just begun drilling for uranium at its Botham Lake property.

Atomic Minerals (TSX.V ATL) is applying some old real estate wisdom to its newest uranium acquisition in Tanzania: location, location, location – as well as a room with a view. This thinking nets the company over one million acres of prime ground in an area known for hosting sizeable uranium deposits.