Meet the rare earth elements that make modern life possible

Say hello to our little friends. Rare earth elements are an important ingredient in everything from personal gadgetry to alternative energy, but you don't hear much about them as individuals. I wrote a piece for Popular Mechanics that looks at the history and future of four rare earths—lanthanum, europium, erbium and neodymium—that will only become more important in the coming years. Get acquainted with them now.