hell in a handbasket, part ii: running out of elements

The second in a continuing series looking at the myriad ways we're doomed.

It seems global supplies of rare earth elements, like iridium and gallium, which we need to make our TVs go, are running quite low, and could be depleted by as soon as 2017.

I'm not sure this qualifies as a species-ending event, but it might force us all to (egad) read or whatever for entertainment.