Intro

Does the tech you use depend too much on a few critical minerals ? When a hurricane temporarily disrupted mining in the small town of Spruce Pine, the tech world was concerned. We find out why the location, in North Carolina, USA, is so important, and discover where a range of rare manufacturing materials can be found across the globe. Are they critical links in a supply chain that can be broken by natural disasters or political decisions ?

Also on Tech Life this week:

An AI tool designed to protect athletes from online abuse during the Olympics - how well did it perform ? And what tech does an explorer take into the jungle ?

Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn

(Photo: An image of a human hand holding pure quartz crystals. Credit: Getty Images)