Stuff Matters with Ed Conway
Sky News
AirPods: How the super-elements inside our tech shifted the global order
SummaryIn this episode of Stuff Matters, Ed Conway explores the hidden world of rare earth elements, specifically focusing on neodymium, the material that makes the magnets inside AirPods and other small electronics possible. These exotic elements, despite their name, are not rare in the Earth’s crust, but they are notoriously difficult to refine and separate. The episode traces the history of these elements from their discovery in a Swedish quarry in the 18th century to their critical role in the Manhattan Project. Conway and his guests highlight how rare earths act as a metaphorical seasoning for technology, enabling everything from powerful magnets and wind turbines to fighter jets and lasers. The discussion delves into the complex geopolitics and economics surrounding these minerals, revealing how China strategically invested in rare earth research and infrastructure over several decades. By detailing the environmental challenges, the intense labor required for separation, and the strategic importance of these materials, the podcast sheds light on why a tiny component in a pair of headphones is fundamentally linked to the global order and the future of industrial power.
Updated Jun 23, 2026
About This Episode
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That satisfying snap when you close an AirPods case is powered by one of the most important materials in the modern world.
Hidden inside are tiny magnets made from rare earth elements: obscure minerals that help power everything from smartphones and wind turbines to fighter jets and electric cars. They're also at the centre of one of the biggest geopolitical struggles of our time.
In this episode, Ed Conway follows the story of rare earths from an obscure Swedish town and the Manhattan Project to modern China, where decades of industrial strategy have given Beijing extraordinary control over a resource the rest of the world depends on.
Along the way, he explores the strange economics of rare earth mining, the environmental costs hidden behind modern technology, and the growing fear that global supply chains can be turned into weapons.
Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over. Find out more and subscribe at skynews.com/stuffmatters.
The Stuff Matters series producer is Jake Otajovic. The production team includes assistant producer Valeria Rocca, specialist producer Aoife Yourell, and video producer Charlie Bell. Our bonus episodes are produced by Soila Apparicio. The editor is Philly Beaumont, and the commissioning editor is Paul Stanworth. Sound design and mixing by Luke Hatten. Original music for the series composed by Klong and Ed Conway.
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