A surprising discovery in science has amazed people across the world. Scientists have found a special kind of bacteria that can change toxic metal into pure 24-karat gold. This bacteria is called Cupriavidus metallidurans, and it was first discovered in 2009 by Australian scientists. Recently, it has again caught public attention due to a post on social media .
Nature’s Tiny Gold-Maker
This bacteria lives in very harsh places where the amount of metal is very high—conditions where most living beings can't survive. But this microbe has a smart way to stay alive. It eats toxic gold chloride, which is a harmful gold compound, and turns it into tiny particles of pure gold using a special chemical process.
In 2013, a research paper in Nature Communications explained how the bacteria removes toxins from its surroundings while creating tiny bits of gold. People have started calling it a “tiny gold factory” because of how it produces gold, although these gold particles are extremely small and not visible to the naked eye.
Hope for Green and Clean Technology
This discovery could be useful for creating environment-friendly ways of mining. Normal gold mining uses a lot of energy and harmful chemicals, which pollute the land and water. But this bacteria could help in bio-mining, where living microbes are used to extract metals from low-quality ores or even old electronic devices (e-waste).
A 2018 report by ScienceAlert mentioned that in the future, modified versions of this bacteria could help recover gold from discarded mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic waste. This would reduce pollution and help recycle precious metals.
Still a Long Way to Go
Even though this idea sounds amazing, scientists warn that it’s not practical on a large scale yet. The bacteria produces very small amounts of gold, and the process is very slow. So, we can't expect to get rich by growing bacteria in labs. Also, the cost of using this method is still high and needs more development.
A 2020 report in Environmental Science & Technology also said that while this method is exciting, it can’t replace current gold mining or recycling methods any time soon.
The Future of Gold-Making Bacteria
Researchers are now trying to improve the bacteria’s gold-making abilities. They are exploring ways like genetic modification or combining it with other helpful microbes. Cupriavidus metallidurans is seen as a new hope in the field of sustainable technology and green mining.
Though it may take years to make this process practical for industries, this bacteria shows how nature can inspire new solutions for modern problems. It is a small but powerful reminder that nature often holds the key to our future—we just have to unlock it with smart science.
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