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The deal with nickel is "tunneling" and a resultant fusion of a proton with a nucleus with the consequent release of a great deal of energy

If fusion of elements heavier than iron released energy, it would occur in the cores of stars. Stars would contain more and more of these heavier elements the older they were. Stars would never run out of fuel.

Still, isn't that interesting that Nickel, with 5 stable isotopes actually has 1 stable isotope that can be turned into iron.

Not that interesting. "with a half-life over 700×10¹⁸ years"

I believe Larson and Widom say "it" occurs in the corona of stars ~ might take a look at their theory cocerning Weak Nuclear Force.

So, apparently, it happens ~ just not in the core. Try: http://iris.lib.neu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=physics_fac_pubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dwidom%2520and%2520larsen%2520high%2520energy%2520particles%2520in%2520the%2520solar%2520corona%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D12%26ved%3D0CB8QFjABOAo%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Firis.lib.neu.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1010%2526context%253Dphysics_fac_pubs%26ei%3DREm9TuPoIeXW2AW4-sXLBQ%26usg%3DAFQjCNHvu-8AffltUWIkZX2MTFVZ02zcZw#search=%22widom%20larsen%20high%20energy%20particles%20solar%20corona%22