Earth's Elements on the Brink of Extinction: What Will We Lose?

Elemental Alert! Earth's Resources Are Rapidly Disappearing

Reading time : 1 minute, Discovery Chepe Id-672-TEC
Published in 04-16-2025

We live surrounded by materials that seem endless, but the truth is that some chemical elements are on the verge of "extinction." Whether due to extreme instability or overuse, certain elements from the periodic table might soon become out of reach. Which ones and why? Let'?s dive in.

Elements that ?extinguish? by nature

Some chemical elements are so unstable that they last only seconds or milliseconds after being created. These do not exist naturally on Earth, but are produced in laboratories for scientific purposes. As soon as they form, they begin to decay into lighter elements. Here are a few of the most fleeting:

Oganesson (Og): Element 118 on the periodic table, lasts less than a millisecond. The heaviest known.
Tennessine (Ts): Extremely short-lived and highly radioactive.
Livermorium (Lv): Doesn'?t occur naturally. Only created under experimental conditions.
Fermium (Fm): Lives between seconds and minutes.
Einsteinium (Es): Can last from seconds to days, but always disappears.

These elements are not being depleted, they simply have never existed stably on Earth. They "extinguish" as soon as they are born.

The Blacklist of Elements: Which Earth Materials Are Critically Endangered?

Elements that could disappear due to scarcity on the planet

Other elements are part of our daily life and modern industry, but could vanish due to overexploitation, natural scarcity, or difficulties in recovery. These could truly disappear in a practical and economic sense.

Helium (He): Used in balloons, MRI machines, and cryogenics. Escapes easily into space and cannot be artificially manufactured. Lithium (Li): Used in batteries for phones, electric cars, and electronics. Demand has exploded in recent years.
Indium (In): Found in touchscreens, LEDs, and electronic components. Extremely rare.
Tantalum (Ta): Used in capacitors for phones and computers. Its extraction is tied to geopolitical conflicts.
Gallium (Ga): Key for solar panels and microchips. Limited and expensive to extract.
Phosphorus (P): Crucial for modern agriculture. Used in fertilizers and has no known substitutes.

Did you know...?

Helium cannot be manufactured. It comes from natural nuclear processes within the Earth and, once released, floats into space and is lost forever. Additionally, rare metals could disappear if we don't improve how we recycle electronic waste.

Is there a solution?

Yes, but it requires global awareness. Recycling rare elements, investing in alternative technologies, and researching sustainable substitutes could prevent these elements from vanishing. Scientists worldwide are working on this, as seen in this World Economic Forum report.

The future of technology, medicine, and modern life depends in part on how we protect these essential elements.

Conclusion

Some elements extinguish because of their own unstable nature. Others, while stable, could disappear from Earth if we continue exploiting them recklessly. Knowledge and responsible action are key to ensuring their availability for future generations.