You are entirely forgiven for not knowing this, since they are not especially rare — cerium is about as common as copper. The problem is that they’re difficult to isolate and purify; it wouldn’t be ...

: [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION: This story incorrectly says that copper, cobalt and nickel are rare earth elements. They are critical minerals.] AYESHA RASCOE, HOST: Throughout the summer, NPR's Short ...

Get ready to have your mind blown with 10 incredible experiments. From physics and chemistry to psychology and biology, each ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. To the untrailed eye, a rock on the side of the road is just that: a ...

Deep under a mountain in Italy, researchers continue to push the boundaries of science with an experiment that could rewrite the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Standard “double beta decay” is ...

Baryons, composite particles made up of three quarks bound together via the so-called strong force, make up the most visible matter and have thus been the focus of numerous physics studies. Studying ...

Astronomers have discovered an incredibly rare system in which at least five galaxies from the early universe are merging — just 800 million years after the Big Bang. The remarkable discovery was made ...