Earth is Running Out of Elements: Why?

When it comes to certain elements, Earth doesn't have an unlimited supply. Phones, TVs, solar panels, and electric car batteries are all made of some rare and unusual elements, and as our modern world creates more and more of these technologies, we're running low. Will things go from "rare" to "nonexistent" and what will we do then? Join Michael Aranda for a new episode of SciShow!

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[TheNewsDepot]

One day land fills will be the new rare element mines since almost everything we're diminishing will be found in them.

[justcallmeSheriff]

"Unrest" is a mild way to describe Belgium hiring mercenaries and bankrolling provincial revolts in their former colony. They were trying to capture the supply of critical metals.

[hunternovak]

At some point we are going to have to start mining our own land fills to retrieve rare materials from our garbage

[test-mmbv]

these engineering and chemistry focused episodes are great
more plz!

[gyrrakavian]

If only we could make tech stuff last longer.

If only there were a way. Like getting rid of planned obsolescence.

[lewistoroian]

SciShow: "The elements inside your phone could literally be priceless!"




Cell carriers: "Trade in your old phone and get $10 off!"

[lankarddkl]

I would like to suggest a topic: infrared "vision" in animals; it is really interesting and I think many people have misconceptions regarding how it works.

[chronovore]

It's crazy to think that every element after iron is made in the brief flash of a supernova.

[josecoelho]

If we're running out, just buy more from the intergalactic market.

[timbosboudreaus]

How about we start requiring items made form these elements to be long lasting. And non throw away.

[Praisethesunson]

Well let's keep allowing Apple and Microsoft to intentionally brick the hardware their software is on. Running out of resources for electronics doesn't matter when planned obsolescence makes already wealthy people slightly richer.

[mardethkellerman]

Oh no, not indium my favorite metallic chewing gum is going away....

[chronovore]

This is why we NEED to start mining asteroid belt.
So many people we shouldn't be focused on space but it should be one of the most important goals.

[aShadowInBlue]

What an amazing episode of Sci show. The diverse, yet interrelated, subject matter was skillfully presented in an enjoyable, and easily digestible format. I feel that this segment has been much more insightful than usual. Broad, engaging, and masterfully concise. Well done, scishow!

[radekc]

"Rare earth metals" can be rephrased as "metals of rare earth", which is a fancy way of saying "metals with low concentration in their ores".
It's not metals that are rare, it's "earth" (ore) that is "rare" (diluted). The phrase has no ambiguity in other languages I know, and I was once very confused when I heard English speakers misunderstanding it.

[JamesBiggar]

Indium is only used in a certain type of solar cell (a typically expensive and subsequently unpopular type). Specifically thin film CIGS. The most common type of solar panels are polycrystalline and monocrystalline, made from silicon. The second most abundant element on the planet.

[Joshdr]

It's fine, once the Ice caps melt, there will be more places we can mine.

[DeviousWizard]

A big issue with the limited resources we have is also just the fact that producers of gadgets and other products push to sell as much as possible and therefore release a new phone every year instead of waiting a few years and preserving our resources

[aquafuego]

I noticed you guys at SciShow use the term “researchers” very often, and I’d like to hear which type of researchers are being referred to (Archaeologists, marine biologists, neurologists, etc.)
Please refer to this for the future

[anthonylipke]

In product development the reuse or recovery should be an element of the design and production.