News tagged with rare element

Physicists show standard 'quasiparticle' theory breaks down at 'quantum critical point'

A new study this week finds that "quantum critical points" in exotic electronic materials can act much like polarizing "hot button issues" in an election. Reporting in Nature, researchers from Rice Univer ...

Physics / General Physics

created Apr 25, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 6 | with audio podcast

Moon whets appetite for water

Scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory, with colleagues, have discovered a much higher water content in the Moon's interior than previous studies. Their research suggests that the ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Jun 14, 2010 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (18) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Clean energy could lead to scarce materials

As the world moves toward greater use of low-carbon and zero-carbon energy sources, a possible bottleneck looms, according to a new MIT study: the supply of certain metals needed for key clean-energy technologies.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Apr 09, 2012 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (8) | comments 25 | with audio podcast

Shift to green energy sources could mean crunch in supply of scarce metals

A large-scale shift from coal-fired electric power plants and gasoline-fueled cars to wind turbines and electric vehicles could increase demand for two already-scarce metals — available almost exclusively ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Mar 07, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (12) | comments 5 | with audio podcast

Earth's rarest metals ranked in supply risk list

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new list published by the British Geological Survey, or BGS, ranks 52 of Earth's elements based on their risk of supply disruption. Andrew Bloodworth, from BGS, points out that the likeli ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Sep 14, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (9) | comments 8 | with audio podcast report

Ocean floor muddies China's grip on '21st-century gold'

China's monopoly over rare-earth metals could be challenged by the discovery of massive deposits of these hi-tech minerals in mud on the Pacific floor, a study on Sunday suggests.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Jul 03, 2011 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (15) | comments 21

US scrambles to dig out of a rare earths hole

In the Mojave Desert just off Interstate 15 on the way to Las Vegas, workers are digging for dirt that may be worth far more than a casino full of chips.

Technology / Business

created Feb 24, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (7) | comments 8

Shooting for the moon -- to mine it

Most people don't take it literally when they're told to shoot for the moon - but thinking small isn't Naveen Jain's way. The 52-year-old Internet entrepreneur is a co-founder of Moon Express Inc., one of ...

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Dec 15, 2011 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (10) | comments 20

German auto sector voices concern over rare-earth spat

German industrialists are concerned over supplies of rare earth minerals needed for a wide variety of products after companies said access to the raw materials was restricted by China.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Oct 25, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 2

Rare earth elements in US not so rare: report

Approximately 13 million metric tons of rare earth elements (REE) exist within known deposits in the United States, according to the first-ever nationwide estimate of these elements by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Nov 17, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (11) | comments 21 | with audio podcast

Particle 'mousetrap' could help answer gnawing cosmic questions

Capturing fleeting bits of matter to reveal the nature of the universe is a little like trying to trap incredibly tiny, impossibly speedy mice alive.

Physics / General Physics

created Apr 29, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (6) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Experts: rare earths headed for 2011 supply crunch

Global demand for the increasingly important "rare earth" minerals that power a range of digital products could outstrip supply by next year as dominant producer China slashes exports, analysts warn.

Technology / Business

created Nov 17, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (10) | comments 1

WTO chief plays down China rare earth row

The head of the World Trade Organization on Friday played down a dispute over China's controls on exports of rare earth minerals, saying it was unlikely to escalate into a trade war.

Technology / Business

created Mar 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Need for new magnet materials drives ORNL research

Increasing demand and a shrinking supply of rare earth elements for magnets creates a perfect opportunity for a research team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Minnesota. The goal is ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Sep 02, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Japan, US, and EU to meet on rare earths

Japan said Wednesday it will host the European Union and United States at a meeting on developing alternatives for rare earths as Chinese controls on the key minerals raise fears of a supply squeeze.

Technology / Business

created Mar 21, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 2