A plasma generating system capable of generating a cold plasma. The plasma generating includes two electrodes, a DC voltage source capable of applying a constant DC voltage between the two electrodes, an insulator located in proximity of the two electrodes, and a gas filling a gap between the two electrodes, wherein cold plasma in the form of series of repetitive streamer breakdowns of the gas is generated, in response to the constant DC voltage applied between the two electrodes. A method of producing and storing a sterilizing gas. The method includes providing a flow of a gas into a chamber, generating cold plasma through repetitive streamer breakdowns of the gas in response to an applied DC voltage, resulting in the gas becoming a sterilizing gas. A method of sterilizing an object. The method includes exposing an object to be sterilized to the sterilizing gas for a period of time.
