What is Samarium?

Like most strategic metals, samarium has a wide array of applications which makes it of critical importance. When Samarium forms a compound with cobalt, it creates a powerful magnet that rivals neodymium magnets. However, samarium magnets have a higher resistance to demagnetization and remain stable for higher temperatures than neodymium magnets; this makes samarium magnets crucial to the electric and hybrid automotive industry. Samarium magnets can also be found in electronics such as headphones, small motors, for instance in the solar-powered electric aircraft Solar Challenger. In research, Samarium is used as a catalyst for certain organic reactions; it is used a by chemists to make synthetic versions of natural products. Samarium oxide can be added to glass, due to its ability to absorb radiation. Samarium also finds important usage in nuclear energy technologies, as it can act as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.