Tag: Tech
Shortage of Rare Earth Elements Could Thwart Innovation
by Ouranos on Feb.17, 2010, under Breakthrough, Opinions
“Silicon may represent one of Earth’s more common elements, but it transformed Silicon Valley into a high-tech corridor and helped usher the world into the Information Age.
Now rare earth elements with exotic names such as europium and tantalum hold the key to hybrid cars, wind turbines and crystal-clear TV displays – that is, if a looming supply shortage doesn’t stop innovation in its tracks.” – http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100216/sc_livescience/shortageofrareearthelementscouldthwartinnovation
In other words, China’s being greedy. And we’re letting them! Yet again our country is allowing other country’s to control world-wide supply of a precious resource we could find on our own soil if we were just willing to produce it. Same with oil, we have enough oil between the Dakotas and Alaska to put the Middle East outta business, but do we drill it? Nah, the caribou might be affected. Right.