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Yes; I've often wondered about the potential existence of planets with an insufficient quantity of rare earth metals, and if that renders them basically "inhosp
by Wingman4l7 11y ago
Yes; I've often wondered about the potential existence of planets with an insufficient quantity of rare earth metals, and if that renders them basically "inhospitable" to high tech civilization.
- erikpukinskis 11y agoWhy rare earth metals specifically?
- Wingman4l7 11y agoThey're used for a whole host of technologies -- doping semiconductors, magnets, lens coatings, metal alloys, etc.
- dogma1138 11y agoLife also has to be on dry land and pretty similar in to us as far as sensory capabilities go to get any where. If you can't see you aren't going to develop laser, if you live under water you won't have fire, heck even hands are required for fine tool making so it's unlikely that we'll have space elephants or squids...
- daveguy 11y agoRare earth metals are a very specific set of elements. If you are talking "nothing above lithium" that means only hydrogen helium and lithium. AKA no carbon oxygen nitrogen (or silicon).