The element ytterbium increases its
electrical resistance when subject to high mechanical stresses. This
property has made it an indispensable component in a medical tool designed to
measure the stress on bones, which can guide physicians in setting broken
bones. Unfortunately, ytterbium is rare, found in only a few meager
sources around the world. A steep market demand will cause the price to
skyrocket, and this technology so helpful to physicians will become
unaffordable.