One of Baotou's other main exports is neodymium, another rare earth with a variety
of applications. Again it is used to dye glass, especially for making lasers, but
perhaps its most important use is in making powerful yet lightweight magnets.
Neodymium magnets are used in consumer electronics items such as in-ear headphones, cellphone micophones, and computer hard-drives. At the other end
of the scale they are a vital component in large equipment that requires powerful
magnetic fields, such as wind farm turbines and the motors that power the new
generation of electric cars.