Dysprosium

Dysprosium is a silvery rare-earth metal found in minerals, not as a free element. It is recovered from rare-earth ores by separating it from chemically similar elements—often using ion-exchange methods—then reducing a dysprosium compound to the metal. Added to neodymium magnets, it helps electric-vehicle motors and wind turbines keep working at high temperatures; its strong neutron absorption also suits nuclear-reactor control rods.