TechnologyJuly 20, 2026
iridium
/ɪˈrɪdiəm/
Definition
A dense, brittle, silvery-white transition metal that is extremely rare and corrosion-resistant, often used in specialized industrial and electronic applications.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek word 'iris', meaning 'rainbow,' because the metal's salts are highly colorful. It was named in 1803 by English chemist Smithson Tennant upon its discovery.
In the news
The article mentions iridium as a rare metal that chipmakers currently rely on, noting that CuspAI aims to use artificial intelligence to discover new materials that could replace or reduce its usage in supply chains.
Jeff Bezos and UK government invest in £2bn British startup CuspAI
Read the full article ↗The Guardian