1, Magnets without rare earth metals. Analysts predict price instability and severe shortages of the metal neodymium because of the dominance of China in the supply chain. Neodymium is needed for the manufacture of the strongest magnets in items such as wind turbines and the motors of electric cars. Niron Magnetics, a US company, raised another $25m from investors, including Samsung and car component manufacturer Magna, to commercialise its alternative iron nitride magnetic materials, avoiding the need to use any rare earth minerals. This new money adds to the $33m raised in November 2023 from major automobile manufacturers. The Niron technology should enable the production of magnets of comparable strength but at much lower cost and with very limited environmental impact. They will also work better at higher temperatures.
Have you publicised the recent “cobalt rush“ short documentary on YouTube? An item weighing up the pluses and minuses of this mediaeval-style mining activity would be very interesting.
Thanks as always Chris. An argument on the limit of the "15 minute city" concept: https://www.slowboring.com/p/what-the-15-minute-city-misses
Thanks for your excellent newsletter.
Have you publicised the recent “cobalt rush“ short documentary on YouTube? An item weighing up the pluses and minuses of this mediaeval-style mining activity would be very interesting.