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.
Hello Sam. I just read that article and I came away thinking that the author Matthew Yglesias actually really did believe in '15 minute cities' but doesn't like the absurd over-simplification contained in this name. For example, he argues - correctly I think - for denser, higher new housing to maximise the numbers of people within a square kilometre. And increasing population density means more activities will typically be within 15 minutes. (Your likelihood of finding a dentist within 15 minutes is higher in a high population density area. There's enough patients to make a successful practice).
Thank you very much for sending the link. Very stimulating. Chris
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.
Sorry for slow reply Slamdunk. Personal view is that cobalt probably will not be a significant constituent of lithium ion batteries in ten years, partly because cobalt mining in DRC is such a dangerous activity. Second point is that cobalt is not a rare metal and could be extensively mined elsewhere. The battery manufacturers continuing to use the metal need to be pushed into using other sources. All best, Chris
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
Hello Sam. I just read that article and I came away thinking that the author Matthew Yglesias actually really did believe in '15 minute cities' but doesn't like the absurd over-simplification contained in this name. For example, he argues - correctly I think - for denser, higher new housing to maximise the numbers of people within a square kilometre. And increasing population density means more activities will typically be within 15 minutes. (Your likelihood of finding a dentist within 15 minutes is higher in a high population density area. There's enough patients to make a successful practice).
Thank you very much for sending the link. Very stimulating. Chris
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.
Sorry for slow reply Slamdunk. Personal view is that cobalt probably will not be a significant constituent of lithium ion batteries in ten years, partly because cobalt mining in DRC is such a dangerous activity. Second point is that cobalt is not a rare metal and could be extensively mined elsewhere. The battery manufacturers continuing to use the metal need to be pushed into using other sources. All best, Chris