This is an interesting post from "Blogging the Periodic Table."

http://www.slate.com/id/2258112/entry/2259391/

If the periodic table was actually a roulette table and people could bet
on the element they thought would be the next big thing in energy
production, you'd find chips scattered all over the board, in just about
every column and row.

But among all the wagers, you'd find some surprisingly handsome stacks
along one obscure corridor of elements: the rare earths, the top of the
two rows hanging in space beneath the periodic table. Many green energy
options rely on these elements, so it's an intriguing bet.
Unfortunately, there's just as good a chance that a lack of rare earths
could stymie a few eco-friendly technologies before they even get started.


--
Jason M. Evans, Ph.D.
Environmental Sustainability Analyst
Environmental Policy Program
Carl Vinson Institute of Government
University of Georgia
Lucy Cobb 318
Office phone: 706-542-2808
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