"Environmental Concerns Propel Innovative Asteroid Mining Techniques"
Scientists have developed a new method to extract metals from asteroids using deep eutectic solvents. In a study, researchers conducted catalytic dissolution experiments on meteorite proxies of metal-rich asteroids, successfully solubilizing metals using non-aqueous deep eutectic solvents. This method has the potential to provide a local source of materials for establishing human settlements in space and reducing the mass, cost, and environmental constraints of space missions. The study also identified valuable metals such as platinum group metals, iron, nickel, and cobalt in near-Earth asteroids, highlighting the potential for asteroid mining as a viable economic activity in the future.