BBC Inside Science How rare are Greenland’s rare earth elements?
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Jan 8, 2026 Adrian Finch, a seasoned geologist from the University of St Andrews, shares insights on Greenland's valuable rare earth elements, emphasizing their significance for modern technology. Immunologist Danny Altmann discusses a groundbreaking project exploring the connections between long COVID and ME, revealing potential shared mechanisms through deep sequencing of biological samples. Roland Pease updates us on asteroid 2024 YR4's risks, while Lizzie Gibney presents intriguing science stories, including octopus-inspired synthetic skin and innovative chess analysis.
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Glacial Exposures Reveal Mineral Plumbing
- Greenland's exposed geology makes it especially useful for locating concentrated mineral deposits near ancient volcano plumbing systems.
- Adrian Finch explains glaciers and erosion reveal the underground 'plumbing' where rare elements concentrate and become economically viable.
Greenland Is Large But Not Unique
- Greenland contains many potentially exploitable rare and critical minerals but is not unique globally.
- Finch notes similar resources run across Canada and into Scandinavia, making Greenland part of a broader mineral belt.
Local Sentiment Isn't Buying Takeover
- Adrian Finch described local attitudes to foreign takeover as cautious and emphasised letting Greenlanders speak for themselves.
- He observed Greenlanders were not necessarily receptive to being taken over by a foreign nation.