Japan found $26 billion treasure under ocean but an innovation could keep it buried forever

Japan's $26 billion deep-sea mining project near Minami-Tori-shima, aimed at extracting cobalt and nickel for EV batteries, faces disruption. Scientists have developed a next-generation battery cathode using disordered rock-salt particles, eliminating the need for these rare metals. This innovation threatens the economic viability of Japan's mining plans while offering environmental benefits by avoiding deep-sea ecological damage.

Science