Scientists have identified a natural and potentially revolutionary way to deal with nuclear waste, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
The research reveals that unique bacteria found in contaminated water at a flooded former Soviet mine in Germany can effectively neutralize toxic uranium. These microbes, when fed glycerol under low-oxygen conditions, transform soluble and highly dangerous uranium into a rare, stable mineral compound known as FeU(V)O₄.
Over a 130-day experiment, the bacteria removed around 95% of dissolved uranium from water samples. The uranium was safely locked inside their cell structures as solid minerals, preventing it from spreading in the environment.
This process, known as bioremediation, could offer a major alternative to traditional cleanup methods, which are often expensive and produce hazardous waste byproducts. Unlike conventional techniques, this natural approach stabilizes uranium even when exposed to oxygen making it safer and more sustainable.
Researchers say the discovery could have global significance, as uranium contamination continues to affect groundwater in countries such as United States, Canada and Australia.
The findings suggest that these naturally occurring bacteria could play a key role in future environmental cleanup efforts offering a safer and more cost-effective solution to one of the world’s most persistent pollution challenges.
