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Some interesting news on the Rare Earth front, courtesy of our friends at The Atlantic and Slashdot. This article from The Atlantic showcases the "Project Phoenix" rare-earths mine in the United States which may provide an alternative to the Chinese stranglehold on these strategically and economically vital materials. But as some posters on Slashdot noted, the Chinese monopoly on rare earths also comes from owning rare-earth mines in other countries. What if the Chinese decided to buy this one, too? What would the political implications of that be? Another note in the Slashdot article: recycling of existing rare earths may turn out to be a significant factor. If it takes a ton of dirt to come up with a cellphone's worth of magnets, there's something to be said to just ripping that magnet out of an old cellphone. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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