[Jonty30]

They are going to put African children out of work, if this works and can be mass produced.

They will have to go to school or something.

[lepton]

So nowhere there does it say how strong or longlasting these new magnets are.

[AZJeep]

Another area where US outsourced stuff to China.
US has huge reserves of Rare Earths, but cannot use them, because the Environmentalist will not allow to mine them!

[Sarcazmo]

“By mixing nickel, iron, and phosphors in specific quantities,”

Scientist 1: Ah, very good. Nickel, check. Iron, check. And these phosphors?

Scientist 2: Yes, those are obtained from the testicles of bald eagles with a certain genetic disposition toward tetrataenite phosphore production.

Scientist 1: Right then.

[martin_fierro]

[PIF]

China only dominates rare earths because B. Clinton shut down US production as a political favor.

[zeugma]

"rare earths" is really a bit of a misnomer. The metals in question aren't actually very rare. They are, however, fairly strongly chemically bonded within the ore. Take some serious processes to separate them out. There is no way you can get a permit to refine the ore in the US, which is why China is the biggest supplier. China has the distinct advantage of having shot most of their "environmentalists".

If we could find easier/cheaper ways to separate the elements desired, the problem would go away. It's kind of like Aluminum was in past centuries. In 1850, aluminum was more expensive per ounce than gold.

Once we discovered we could use electricity to refine aluminum the price of aluminum cratered.