Rare Earths: The Silent Metal Frontier of Tech and Defense
Explore Rare Earths: The Silent Metal Frontier. Learn how REEs power everything from the F-35 fighter jet to the green energy transition and modern infrastructure.
Best quote from Rare Earths: The Silent Metal Frontier of Tech and Defense
Rare earth elements are the silent metal infrastructure of deterrence and the green energy transition; without them, a lot of what we consider 'modern' just stops working.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
I would like to know about different rare earth ores and their importance to our economy and military today. Besides china where are they located.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rare earth elements, or REEs, are a group of seventeen specialized minerals that serve as the silent metal infrastructure for modern technology. While they are not actually rare in the Earth's crust, finding them in high enough concentrations to mine is a significant challenge. These elements are essential because they power the devices we rely on daily, including smartphones, and are critical for the global green energy transition.
Rare earth elements are vital for advanced military hardware and national deterrence. For example, a single F-35 fighter jet requires approximately 417 kilograms, or nearly a thousand pounds, of rare earth materials to function. These strategic minerals are integrated into almost everything that moves, sees, or communicates in a modern military context, making them indispensable for defense technology and sophisticated aerospace engineering.
Despite their name, rare earth elements are relatively common throughout the Earth's crust. The difficulty lies in the fact that they are rarely found in concentrated deposits that are economically viable to mine. This makes the extraction of REEs a complex puzzle, as the materials are often scattered rather than being grouped together, which complicates the production of the specialized minerals needed for modern infrastructure and high-tech applications.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
