Page 1 of 1

Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:36 am
by cesariojpn

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:20 am
by Engineer
Kashefi and Brown are the ones who have created this compact laboratory that uses the bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans to turn gold chlroride—a toxic chemical liquid you can find in nature—into 99.9% pure gold.


From what I've read, gold chloride is a PITA to process, so this could be a huge benefit to the refining industry.

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:21 am
by rexmerdinus
My first thought was that this bacteria was lab-created instead of discovered in nature, but from a quick read that seems not to be the case. Ironic how going back to nature may increase technology in an area.

I'm also thinking this opens up possibilities for nanotechnology. If you can find a way to deposit the bacteria, or possibly just their food, onto a super small circuit board in a predictable and controlloable manner, it makes expensive and sensitive industrial processes obsolete. Also, in kind of a science fiction vein, I wonder if anyone has thought of splicing genes from that bacterium into human DNA to produce a REAL "Midas Touch." My dad always said there was a lot of money in sh**!

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:26 am
by Sterling Silver
I'm sure the MSM will report it is only found in Obama's colon.

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:41 am
by Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay
A few years back, I read how scientists were hunting for the bacteria. They kept finding gold in sea beds with a molecular structure suggesting it was germ poop. Now they did!

Remember the story about the goose that lays the golden eggs? Well, it turns out it's a germ, not a goose!

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:39 pm
by OtusLotus
I can only imagine if my "Gold-en Retriever" or my "Goldfish" could do the same thing! :lol:

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:25 pm
by ScottyTX
OtusLotus wrote:I can only imagine if my "Gold-en Retriever" or my "Goldfish" could do the same thing! :lol:


I'm sure you could get the dog to Shyt gold out just might not be what you were thinking ;) It's all about what you feed them :D

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:19 pm
by madman326
i dont know about anyone else, but my poop does not stink..... :lol:

Re: Science discovers bacteria that poops gold.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:40 am
by chant1970
Arthur C. Clarke in his book Imperial Earth mentions engineered coral reefs made of gold. It’s not a big part of the story and he doesn’t go into detail. It was published in 1976.

I thank today the idea of polyps modified to “harvest” gold from seawater and building their exoskeletons out of gold instead of calcium is not so farfetched.

Chant