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Mining Metals Using Plants and Trees?

Posted by Hemos on from the storing-up-the-evil dept.

elroySF writes "An MIT Technology Review article says "...Scientists reported Monday that they have bioengineered a plant capable of absorbing arsenic from soil and sequenced the complete set of genes for a microbe that can remove heavy metals from water." It goes on to say "...Some scientists even see the day when trees and grasses will be used to mine metals and minerals without disturbing the soil." " We had a story about this a while back.

7 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. I've played this game. by BenSnyder · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's called Command & Conquer.

  2. Re:Control? by sheepab · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Right, lets mod me a troll because I bring up an important problem with the idea.

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    In college, really poor, need a flatscreen.
  3. Re:Let's just hope it's not a fruit tree... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I'll take some extra biscuits, please.

  4. Re:hmmm... by BeesTea · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    now that's FUNNY +1 Funny please

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    2b2b2b415448300d
  5. Re:Bacteria that "breathe" heavy metals by Galahad2 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Oh, you're right.

  6. Ooooh well. by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    I doubt this will ever happen successfully.

    On a related note, I have a feeling that something that WILL materialize is Star Trek style transporter technology. Then, downloading and transferring stuff around the Internet will take on a whole new meaning.

    For example, there will be enormous warehouses around the world that deal in raw materials. You could, for example, transfer a specified amount of hydrogen from one source and an amount of oxygen from another directly to a heating chamber where they will form droplets of water which can then be downloaded. Meals will be downloaded from the Internet, complete with dishes which will then be re-uploaded to be taken care of by the company (so you don't have to wash dishes).

    People will also beam themselves around, over the Internet. There will be encryption and tunneling and stuff going on to protect your "image" and there will be transporter crackers who will specialize in intercepting people's transportation and turning them into frogs and stuff. So it will be dangerous to transport around. Then, just when you thought it was safe, it will also become possible, through cracking your server, to enter your property and stuff! How convenient!

    Oh wait... I'm describing the future as if Microsoft is going to control this transporter technology.

  7. Re:Let's just hope it's not a fruit tree... by Albinoman · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Quoting Red Hot Chili Peppers?