"Mysterious Cosmic Metal Holds Key to Earth's Urgent Crisis: A Scientific Breakthrough"
Cambridge researchers are working on recreating tetrataenite, a "cosmic magnet" found in outer space, in order to provide an alternative to rare earth elements for renewable technology. Currently, magnets made with rare earth elements are crucial components in electric vehicles and wind turbines, but their extraction is invasive and expensive, with China controlling the majority of the supply. Tetrataenite, an iron-nickel alloy, could revolutionize the production of magnets, but it forms naturally over millions of years on meteorites. The researchers have successfully recreated tetrataenite in the lab by adding phosphorus to the mix, eliminating the need for rare earth elements and potentially providing a more sustainable solution for cleaner technology.