In recent years, the spotlight has increasingly turned toward a group of 17 obscure elements known as rare earth metals. Despite their name, rare earths are actually relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but economically viable concentrations are much harder to find—and even harder to process. For the United States, these metals are not just strategic commodities, but foundational building blocks for advanced technologies, clean energy, and national security. As global competition intensifies and the world shifts toward new energy and defense paradigms, understanding why America wants rare earth metals has become ... (full story)