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Bacteria Used To Make Radioactive Metals Inert
Serenissima writes "Researcher Judy Wall is experimenting with bacteria that can cleanse the radioactivity from toxic areas by rendering the heavy metals into non-toxic, inert versions. The technology is not without its flaws (the bacteria can't exist in an oxygenated environment yet), but it does have the potential to cleanse some of the world's hazardous sites. From the article: 'The bacteria Wall is studying are bio-corrosives and can change the solubility of heavy metals. They can take uranium and convert it to uraninite, a nearly insoluble substance.'"
So... they can convert heavy metal into liquid metal? How long until we can buy that on iTunes?
I think the thousands of mites already crawling around in there probably do that job. Unfortunately, you wind up with mite poop.
Brett
What happens when the radiation mutates the bacteria? Single-celled organisms mutate very easily, and we could easily have a serious problem on our hands if the bacteria turn into something that is dangerous to us and then multiply out of control.
"It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity."
So what they're really saying is they've got a great deal on Ukranian real estate that we don't want to miss out on?
Oh, and I for one welcome our uranium-eating overlords.
Get a web developer
Bacteria...is there anything it can't do.....
I think the Chinese Needle Snakes can take care of that problem for you.
And the gorillas will take care of the snakes...
The best part: when wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.
I, for one, welcome our radioactive bacteria overlords!
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
White? Please... before long your gonna have real options. White? I mean...why be white when you can be blue? or green? or red? Or.... you could have mood skin! Maybe a little glow in the dark anyone? Sure there may be a few side effects, maybe it wil destroy your liver in 3 years and make your thyroid go hypractive if you survive beyond that but.... the possibilities for matching with your ipod will never be greater.
-Steve
"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
Oh... I thought you were talking about the banking crisis again.
+1 Disagree
Or, as 'Ert' is a nickname my sister gave me, 'inert' generally refers to hamburgers and beer.
William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
Second, this article is REALLY short on facts. The least it could have done is explain exactly what the difference was between the dangerous and the safe uranium. A simple molecular formula comparison would have been very helpfull. Plus they should have told us WHY it was safe. Something along the lines of 'this molecule tastes horrible to other bacteria', as opposed to just leaving us hanging.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
If you can get these bacteria to selectively convert U-235 over U-238 (or vice-versa), then you've got an interesting bug.
Section 9 should be informed...
Who's white?
I'm an albino, you insensitive clod!
After three weeks in the sun, perhaps. The natural colour of the species Brittanicus Atlanticus Gingerus is somewhere between blue and transparent.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."