When conversations turn to the minerals shaping our future, names like copper, lithium, or nickel usually dominate. Yet much of the modern world runs on a quieter group of materials: the 17 rare earth elements. Few people can name them, but industries depend on them every single day. These elements, which include neodymium, dysprosium, cerium, yttrium, and samarium are indispensable for advanced magnets, batteries, wind turbines, smartphones, defense systems, and more.

Despite their name, rare earth elements are not extremely scarce in the Earth’s crust; many are as abundant as copper or nickel. What makes them “hashtagrare” is that they typically occur in low concentrations mixed with other minerals, making mining and processing complex and costly.

The key role of these 17 elements is often hidden from public view. Neodymium and praseodymium, for example, are critical for the powerful permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators. Dysprosium enhances magnet performance at high temperatures, essential in aerospace and defense applications. Others like europium are vital for display technologies and lighting.

Globally, demand for hashtagREEs is rising sharply as electrification, digital technologies, and clean energy transitions expand. This has elevated their strategic importance in energy security and global supply chains. Many governments now see rare earths not as niche curiosities but as cornerstones of technological and economic competitiveness.

As global demand for electrification, renewable energy, and advanced electronics accelerates, the importance of these 17 elements continues to rise. These “17 hidden hashtagmetals” are far more than scientific curiosities, they are the unseen backbone of modern industry.