rare earths

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, rare earths has been mentioned in one podcast episode on The Ezra Klein Show (Dec 2025).

The rare-earth elements (REE), also called rare-earth metals, or rare earths, are a set of 17 nearly indistinguishable lustrous silvery-white soft heavy metals. The 15 lanthanides, along with scandium, and yttrium, are usually included as rare earths. Compounds containing rare-earth elements have diverse applications in electrical and electronic components, lasers, glass, magnetic materials, and industrial processes. Rare-earths are to be distinguished from critical minerals, which are materials