The Hidden Importance of Rhenium in Aviation

Rhenium is literally one of the rarest metals on Earth and most people have never heard

of it. This silvery metal is so scarce that all the rhenium ever mined would

fit in a single room, yet it's absolutely crucial for modern aviation.

Here's the crazy part about rhenium. It has the third highest melting point of any element

at over 3000 degrees Celsius. This makes it perfect for jet engine parts that need to withstand

extreme heat. Without rhenium, your airplane flights would be way less efficient and much

more dangerous. The metal is so rare because it doesn't form its own minerals.

Instead, it hides in tiny amounts within other metal ores, making it incredibly