Researchers at Saarland University in Germany have demonstrated an elastocaloric cooling and heating system based on nickel-titanium shape memory alloys, completely avoiding refrigerants and fossil fuels. The principle: when a nickel-titanium wire is stretched, the alloy transitions from a high-temperature phase to a low-temperature phase, releasing heat; upon stress release, the material springs back and absorbs heat. The team has studied this effect for over 15 years, aiming to provide temperature control solutions for automotive, construction, and industrial facilities with zero environmental cost. The European Commission lists elastocaloric cooling as the most promising alternative cooling technology, and the World Economic Forum includes it among the Top 10 Emerging Technologies. Recently, the team used additive manufacturing to produce three-dimensional porous nickel-titanium lattice structures, significantly increasing heat exchange surface area. At the Hannover Messe, they exhibited an elastocaloric mini-fridge prototype, using bundles of 200-micron fine nickel-titanium wires to cool a beverage can.