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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Nuclear waste? These microbes might help with the cleanup

Bacteria discovered in a Mexican lake accumulate two radioactive isotopes in their cells.
Recoloured SEM of Gloeomargarita lithophora with amorphous carbonate mineral phase inclusions.

A Gloeomargarita lithophora bacterium containing carbonate granules (white spheres). The microbe’s ability to form such granules internally might explain how it draws radioactive isotopes from its surroundings. Credit: Karim Benzerara and Stefan Borensztajn/CNRS

A species of photosynthetic bacterium could help to soak up radioactive contaminants in polluted waterways.

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Nature 574, 457 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03087-1

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