Rare earths crunch? Why we need them and who has them | Business Beyond

You may not have heard of most rare earths, but the 17 metallic elements known as rare earths are essential to modern life. They’re in our smartphones, computers, TVs and just about every other electronic device. They also play a major part in plans to create a carbon-free future. However, extracting them can be highly environmentally destructive and there’s concern over China’s dominance of the market.