this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2025
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397
China Halts Critical Rare Earth Exports as Trade War Intensifies. (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 2 days ago by Tea@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
25 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Beijing has suspended exports of certain rare earth minerals and magnets that are crucial for the world’s car, semiconductor and aerospace industries.

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[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 65 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The fact they where supplying foreign militaries in the first place is hilarious.

as far as magnets are concerned there are better designs out there that are not being pursued because neodymium is so much easier.

So much of the modern world is built on what is easiest not what could be better if we put in the least little bit of effort.

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 52 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Because anything that isn't easiest isn't profitable

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and profit is more important than everything; including quality of life and national security!

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 days ago

Now you're catching on!

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not always isn't profitable, just isn't as profitable.

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Well sure.

But when the lowest-hanging fruit is all harvested, reaching for the next available thing requires investment and so quarterly profits start dropping. Once the investments have been paid for, profits will never come back to where they were previously so it's always diminishing returns

[–] SynopsisTantilize@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes and since the advent of the smart phone I haven't seen any tangible evidence the next "thing" is here for them to dump money into. (Tangible, not software based)

[–] AfricanExpansionist@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Exactly this!

They're pretending it's AI, or cryptocurrency, but neither has any use case that anybody wants or needs aside from money laundering and homework cheating

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

as far as magnets are concerned there are better designs out there that are not being pursued because neodymium is so much easier.

Like what?

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

yeah, I noticed I just said magnets like other permanent magnets could be better or something ...

Thanks for calling me on this.

I was talking about motors and Induction isn't in fact explicitly better. I think they could be if we have no other choice but to throw research at them but for right now there have fairly equal trade offs.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Well, i hoped there were more effective materials/mixes around with less reliance on rare earth, since i'm not that into magnetic science.

[–] simbico@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

Would you say you ate not attracted to magnetism?