The Rare Earth hypothesis suggests that the emergence of complex, multicellular life (like humans) on Earth required an improbable combination of astrophysical and geological events, making it rare in the universe, even if simple microbial life is common. Key factors cited include a stable star, the right planetary mass, liquid water, a large moon to stabilize axial tilt, plate tectonics for climate regulation, and a protective Jupiter. Proponents argue these precise conditions are so unlikely to co-exist that Earth is a cosmic fluke, contrasting with the idea that alien life should be abundant (the Fermi Paradox)..
The Rare Earth hypothesis argues that life requires terrestrial planets like Earth, and since gas giants lack such a surface, that complex life cannot arise there. A planet that is too small cannot maintain much atmosphere, rendering its surface temperature low and variable and oceans impossible.
China dominates the rest of the world in terms of REE reserves and production; in 2019, it supplied around 90% of the global demand for the 17 rare-earth powders.
At today's production rates, we will run out of these materials in 60 to 100 years. Efforts are underway, however, to find more deposits of the metals, which aren't actually especially rare but are difficult to extract because they are usually found in low concentrations along with other elements.
As the world shifts towards sustainable technologies, researchers are exploring innovative materials to replace rare earth elements in magnet production. Two promising contenders have emerged: iron nitride and manganese aluminum carbide (MnAlC).
The Rare Earth Hypothesis: What Makes Our Planet Special? | BBC Earth Science
How long will the earth last realistically?
Drag from the chromosphere of the Sun would reduce Earth's orbit. These effects will counterbalance the impact of mass loss by the Sun, and the Sun will likely engulf Earth in about 7.59 billion years from now.
The United States was the main global source of rare earth minerals until the mid-1980s but a combination of high environmental costs in the U.S. with competition from lower-cost production shifted the industry to China (see here).
REE minerals have been identified within lead-zinc-fluorite veins in the North Pennine orefield of northern England, where they are associated with bismuth-bearing quartz veins. The mineral assemblage includes the fluorcarbonates synchysite and bastnäsite, as well as monazite and xenotime.
Detailed Description. Rare earth elements (REEs) and rare metals are key ingredients for glass, lights, magnets, batteries, and catalytic converters, and used in everything from cell phones to cars. For example, to make the magnet for one wind turbine, you need about 300 kilograms of neodymium.
Clocks may have to skip a second — called a "negative leap second" — around 2029, a study in the journal Nature said Wednesday. "This is an unprecedented situation and a big deal," said study lead author Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
Rare Earth Dilemma: Despite its applications in green and emerging technologies, the extraction of REEs causes environmental damage. The extraction of REEs often results in large amounts of toxic waste, contaminating air, water, and soil. For every ton of rare earth, 2,000 tons of toxic waste are produced.
How likely is it that we are alone in the universe?
The idea of being alone in the universe is infinitesimally small. Our earth, over a trillion cubic kilometers, is one of eight planets orbiting the sun, which is thousands of times larger. According to NASA, there are probably THOUSANDS of solar systems in the milky way, the galaxy we live in.
Rarest mineral, Blue John. In our ceaseless quest for the finest materials we have been working with the rarest mineral in Britain - Blue John. This semi-precious stone is only found in in the depths of two caves near in Castleton, Derbyshire, first hollowed out by the Romans two thousand years ago.
Which major UK rare earths refinery scrapped in favor of us?
Plans for a groundbreaking rare earths refinery in East Yorkshire have been scrapped, after the company behind the project decided to seek investment in the US instead. Pensana has spent the past seven years developing a rare earths mine in Angola.
Top rare earth stocks include major players like MP Materials (MP), Lynas Rare Earths (LYC), and Energy Fuels (UUUU), driven by demand for EVs, defense, and clean energy, with opportunities also in emerging companies like USA Rare Earth (USAR) and Idaho Strategic Resources (IDR), while diversified exposure is available through ETFs like VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) or Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM). Investors focus on companies building domestic supply chains outside China, like MP Materials and Lynas, or those emerging in the U.S..
Based on mathematical models, our longest potential lifespan is around 150 years. But, we know that genetic manipulation of model organisms increases it by up to 100%. So, humans can live up to 244 years.
Yet some have taken the doctrine of God's 7,000-year plan and tried to fit the entire history of the universe into the last 6,000 years. This is simply not what the Bible actually says or what the Church of God teaches.
