Athira Sethu
Kochi, 18 June 2025
Rare earth metals are crucial to the technology that we use daily. These metals are contained in most gadgets and machinery. They enable electronics to be smaller, faster, and more powerful. They assist in producing clean energy, such as electric vehicles and wind turbines that are eco-friendly. Rare earth metals are applied in phones, computers, medical devices, and even military hardware. As technology advances, we require more of these metals.
What Are Rare Earth Metals?
Rare earth metals are 17 unique elements. Some of the common ones include neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum, and cerium. They are “rare” but not that rare on the Earth. The issue is they are scattered and embedded among other materials, so it is costly and difficult to extract them.
Why Are They So Important?
Rare earth metals are utilized in numerous technologies:
- Smartphones, notebooks, and televisions utilize them in batteries, screens, and speakers.
- Electric vehicles require powerful magnets composed of rare earth metals to power their engines.
- Windmills utilize these magnets to generate clean electricity.
- Medical devices, such as MRI machines, depend on them.
- Military weapons, including missiles and radar, utilize rare earth metals as well.
These metals assist in making technology function more efficiently and speedily. Without them, most devices we use would not function efficiently or may not be available.
Who Makes Rare Earth Metals?
China manufactures the majority of rare earth metals. It extracts approximately 60% and processes almost 90% of global supply. Due to this, most nations are concerned with their overdependence on China. Nations such as Australia and the United States are initiating new ventures to discover and manufacture rare earth metals independently.
What Are the Challenges?
Extraction of rare earth metals can be detrimental to the environment. It involves the use of powerful chemicals that can contaminate soil and water. Some rare earths contain radioactive elements that require special care. Researchers are developing cleaner and safer methods to access these metals.
Rare earth metals can be tiny, but they play a big role in today’s technology. They power phones, computers, clean energy devices, and many other things. With the world becoming more technological, the demand for these metals will continue to increase.
