Environment

Recycling rare earth elements is hard. Science is trying to make it easier

a pile of hard disk drives on a white background

Recycling rare earth elements from existing high-tech products, like hard disk drives, might help meet demand for these valuable metals.

JORG GREUEL/PHOTODISC/GETTY IMAGES PLUS

By Erin Wayman

- More than 2 years ago

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

Our modern lives depend on rare earth elements, and someday soon we may not have enough to meet growing demand.