Humanity has always relied on the Earth to provide plants for food, clothing and shelter, animals for work and meat, and minerals for metals and chemicals. Useful materials are everywhere; we’ve known for decades that seawater contains uranium. But now we’re discovering new resources never thought possible.

We’re not relying on geologists to do prospecting anymore. Using hyperspectral imaging, trace-element sensing, and supercomputer simulation, researchers are unearthing novel molecules and undiscovered species in the strangest places. Some of the most rewarding sites include Earth’s most extreme environments. From the greatest depths of the ocean to volcanic vents and geysers to the driest Antarctic mountainsides, previously hidden gems are emerging.

“We’ve been mining the earth for ages,” says Alex Van Den Laar, “and we’ve barely scratched the surface. Now we’re making miraculous discoveries; abundant fuel sources on the deep seabed, magnificent microbes in the permafrost, and interesting species in the tropical jungle. We don’t need to scour the stars, everything we could possibly need is right here!”

Uncovering all the secrets of the Earth will take many more generations, but we already have the tools to capitalize on what’s been revealed so far. With gene editing tools we can enhance beneficial bacteria to become industrial scale feedstock suppliers. With molecular editing we can bend chemicals to our will, creating long, stable chains of polymers and hydrocarbons, without the toxic byproducts of the industrial age.

The irony is that we could have avoided much of the mining and deforestation of the past, if we had only known what we know now. But at least now we can afford to take better care of our home planet. Abundance is everywhere, if you know where to look.

And the Earth has everything we need, when you get down to it.