An article that was published on March 19, 2009 studies how, through microscope work, a recently discovered bacteria may be able to break down nuclear waste into less harmful by-products. Brian Lower and his fellow researchers at Ohio State University have used several microscopes to examine a bacteria (Shewanella Oneidensis) which produces a protein (OmcA) which it then transfers to the outside of the cell where it can bond with the oxidised metal so that the bacteria can take the oxygen from the oxidised form of the metal to respire.
The problem with the radioactive waste is that it is water soluble and because of this, when it rains or if the containers break, the radioactive metals can contaminate the water that runs along the water table below the ground. Brian Lower claims: “...if you could enhance this bacterium’s ability to reduce uranium by having it make more of these key proteins, that could perhaps be one way to clean up these sites that are contaminated...” Hopefully, with the current information and technology that we have, we will be able to let this idea become a reality, where the waste will not become as unstable as it currently is and will not contaminate the water that many towns drink from.
Original news article from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090316151031.htm
