Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials have developed a new, carbon-free method to extract nickel using hydrogen plasma. This breakthrough process cuts carbon emissions by up to 84% and improves energy efficiency by up to 18% when powered by renewable energy. Unlike traditional methods, it can process low-grade ores in a single step without using catalysts. The resulting iron-nickel alloy can be used in stainless steel or batteries, and byproducts can be reused in construction. The team aims to scale up the technology for industrial use and may also apply it to cobalt extraction.