Latest Cupriavidus metallidurans Stories

Alan McStravick for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online An amazing discovery was reported this week. Even more amazing than the discovery itself was just how the discovery was made. In an exceptional confluence of art and science, the study of Cupriavidus metallidurans showed how this resilient bacterium could not only survive the toxic nature of gold (III) tetrachloride but could react with it, creating 24-karat gold nuggets. “Microbial alchemy is what we’re doing – transforming...

Australian scientists have found that the bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans catalyses the biomineralization of gold by transforming toxic gold compounds to their metallic form using active cellular mechanism. Researchers reported the presence of bacteria on gold surfaces but have never clearly elucidated their role. Now, an international team of scientists has found that there may be a biological reason for the presence of these bacteria on gold grain surfaces. "A number of years ago we...