🧬 A Strange Discovery: Bacteria That “Poop” Gold
Believe it or not, scientists from Germany and Australia have identified a bacterium that literally produces gold—not by mining it, but by transforming toxic gold compounds into solid gold particles. This unusual microorganism, called Cupriavidus metallidurans, has earned the internet nickname: gold-pooping bacteria.
The discovery may sound like science fiction, but it’s backed by real research and peer-reviewed science.
🔬 How Does This Bacteria “Poop” Gold?
The process begins when Cupriavidus metallidurans comes into contact with toxic gold chloride, a naturally occurring substance in the earth’s crust. Gold chloride is deadly to most life forms—but not to this resilient microbe.
Here’s what happens:
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The bacteria absorb gold chloride (AuCl₃) from their environment.
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They detoxify it by chemically reducing it to elemental gold (Au).
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The gold is then expelled or deposited outside the bacterial cells in the form of tiny gold nuggets or nanoparticles.
This mechanism is a survival strategy. The bacteria are simply trying to get rid of toxic substances—but in the process, they end up producing gold.
🌍 A Joint Discovery from Germany and Australia
This bizarre biological phenomenon was uncovered through a joint effort between:
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Martin Luther University (Germany)
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University of Adelaide (Australia)
Led by microbiologists Prof. Dietrich Nies and Prof. Frank Reith, the researchers found that Cupriavidus metallidurans thrives in environments with high concentrations of copper and gold—places where most organisms would die.
Their research was published in several respected journals and confirmed by reputable science outlets like Scientific American and EurekAlert!.
🧪 Is It Really “Pooping” Gold?
Not exactly—”pooping” is just a playful way to describe the process. In reality, the bacteria are:
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Taking in toxic metal compounds.
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Performing a chemical reaction to neutralize the toxins.
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Leaving behind solid gold particles as a waste byproduct.
So while it’s not literal defecation, the result is the same: the bacteria expel gold from their systems as a form of waste.
🔄 Can This Bacteria Be Used to Make Gold?
This has led scientists to wonder: Could these bacteria be used in gold recovery or mining?
Possibly—here’s how:
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E-waste Recycling: The bacteria might help extract gold from electronic waste.
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Eco-friendly Mining: Future bio-mining techniques could use bacteria instead of harmful chemicals.
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Environmental Cleanup: They can detoxify polluted areas by neutralizing heavy metals.
However, don’t expect to get rich quickly. The amount of gold produced is tiny and slow, so large-scale gold farming with bacteria is still far from reality.
🔎 A Second Gold-Making Bacterium: Delftia acidovorans
Another bacterium, Delftia acidovorans, also makes gold using a molecule called delftibactin, which binds and neutralizes gold ions outside the cell. It leaves behind solid gold particles too, and forms visible halos of gold on lab dishes.
This further confirms that nature has some truly bizarre but fascinating ways of dealing with toxic metals.
✅ Final Thoughts
The discovery of gold-pooping bacteria is more than just a fun headline—it’s a real scientific breakthrough with potential applications in mining, waste recycling, and environmental detoxification.
Who would’ve thought that nature’s tiniest creatures could create one of Earth’s most valuable metals?
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