A new study has revealed a potential method for harvesting metals from asteroids. The method, proposed by researchers at the University of Central Florida, could provide humanity with a reliable source of metals for the construction of spacecraft and other technologies. The research team discovered a way to use a combination of lasers and a process called “ablation” to extract metals from asteroids. Ablation is a process in which the intense heat from the laser vaporizes the surface of the asteroid, releasing the metals contained within. By using this method, the researchers believe that asteroids could be mined for metals in a much more efficient and cost effective manner than traditional mining methods. This could make space exploration and development much more accessible to humanity in the future.

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source: Phys.org