This is a rarely discussed topic, but vitally important. "China accounts for 97% of rare earth metal production", which is frightening for many reasons. Mostly, we are teetering on the edge of a trade war with China. If this escalates, and China discontinues exports to the US, our high tech production will stop. If high tech production stops, all production stops. What kind of trouble will we be then?

This makes me realize that we must restart our space program to search for industrial material while we still can afford it. And quickly too.

News URL: