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this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2023
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It's not like these elements are disappearing into the void. If we start running out of something, the price will increase, and we'll either find alternatives or put more effort into recycling.
For example, see the increasing use of LiFePO4 batteries, without nickel or cobalt.
The health and pollution risks unfortunately don't scale the same as the economics. We could potentially poison ourselves or destroy major biomes before certain elements "run out" in their accessible forms.