'Rare earth' mining can hurt the environment
(NEWSER) - So, you bought a Prius or know someone who has. Beautiful. But look under the hood and you'll find some neodymium, one of the "rare earth" minerals that help run all kinds of green technology—and other high-tech stuff like smartphones and flat-screen TVs. So far so good, but rare-earth mining can be environmentally destructive, reportedly causing cancer and leaking radioactive waste in some cases. What's more, the rare-earth mining business is booming, Mother Jones reports. More»
