“Thank goodness for the lanthanides” is not something I say, but after reading this issue’s special report on the importance of rare earth elements to society, maybe I should.
These unobtrusive metals, which include the chemical elements known as the lanthanides plus two other elements on the periodic table, are essential for making the magnets needed in electric cars and wind turbines, two key technologies for fighting climate change. The elements are ubiquitous in our homes, from smartphone and television screens to earbuds and computer hard drives.