Rare Earth Metals: Why Your Phone Depends on Them
The smartphone in your pocket contains at least 16 different rare earth elements. Without neodymium, your phone’s speakers would be silent. Without dysprosium, the vibration motor wouldn’t work. Without europium, your screen would lack color clarity. These 17 obscure elements — with tongue-twisting names like praseodymium and gadolinium — have quietly become the backbone of every piece of modern technology.