Class blog for "The Unstable Nucleus" at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Hazardous Waste-Eating Bacteria
















The "extremophile" bacterium was found in soil samples in the Peak District.
Image Credit: Image courtesy of University of Manchester

Last September, a research article posted on ISME (Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology) Journal. Scientists discovered “extremophile” bacteria that survive in extreme conditions such as alkaline conditions expected in cement-based radioactive waste. 
Manchester group was studying for microorganism, it may solve the nuclear waste issue and its possibility of chemical reactions in the nuclear waste chamber. They were researching on soil samples from the Peak District where has highly alkaline industrial site. They discovered bacteria that thrive under the alkaline conditions. The bacteria not only live in the extreme condition also they use the chemical reaction (Isosaccharinic acid) as a source of food and energy. Scientists are expecting that microorganisms could help with the problem of nuclear waste disposal.


- Eun Sun Cho

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