Jun
8
Penn State scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which bacteria can select between different rare earth elements. That is using the ability of a bacterial protein to bind to another unit of itself, or ‘dimerize,’ when it is bound to certain rare earths, but prefer to remain a single unit, or ‘monomer,’ when bound […]
Apr
28
The Very Best Magnets Could Be Cheaper
April 28, 2015 | 1 Comment
Researchers at the Ames Laboratory have used cerium, a widely available and inexpensive rare-earth metal, to create a high-performance magnet that’s similar in performance to traditional dysprosium containing magnets that could make wind turbines and other generator and motor sets less expensive to manufacture. Karl A. Gschneidner and fellow scientists at the U.S. Department of […]
Feb
18
Europe Awakens to the Rare Earth Metal Shortage
February 18, 2014 | Leave a Comment
The European Union has begun to gather concern about the availability of rare earth elements. The rare earth elements are important components in green energy products such as wind turbines and efficient automobiles. The demand for metals such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) is increasing much faster than production. These metals are used in […]