Engineering News Blog

Engineering News

Latest news of interest to engineers. Sourced from GlobalSpec's Engineering News

Previous in Blog: A New Concept for Shape-Shifting Architecture That Responds to Heat   Next in Blog: Humanoid Robot Nao Learns to Drive Its Own Car
Close
Close
Close
26 comments
Rating: Comments: Nested

Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

Posted September 09, 2014 11:57 AM

From Science 2.0:

Tiny single-cell organisms living underground could help with the problem of nuclear waste disposal, according to a paper in the ISME (Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology) Journal.

Read the whole article

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
2
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Commissariat de Police, Nouvions, occupied France, 1942.
Posts: 2599
Good Answers: 77
#1

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 12:21 PM

All animals can eat radioactive waste. It is the ones that survive the experience that are of the greatest interest.

__________________
Good moaning!
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Been there, done that. Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 15602
Good Answers: 982
#2

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 2:39 PM

How in the world does finding a single cell organism that ingests radioactive waste solve anything. This makes the situation worse not better. Now the radioactive isotopes are part of the biosphere and can be dispersed.

__________________
"Don't disturb my circles." translation of Archimedes last words
Reply
2
Guru

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Wolfe Island, ON
Posts: 1357
Good Answers: 109
#6
In reply to #2

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 5:19 PM

Actually the bacteria form colonies and help to retain the radionuclides. The formation of ISA, a sugar formed with concrete, helps to mobilize the radionuclide but the bacteria stop the mobilization and stabilize the waste in a stored position. We do not want the radionuclide to become soluble and without bacteria that is what will happen. There are many specialized biofilms formed in the underground reduced environments. This it seems is a unique case where a radioactive waste is kept in place. However, creating a biofilm wall to contain toxic waste is a common method of trying to contain it. Sometimes a food source or nutrients are injected to encourage certain biological growth.

__________________
If they want holy water, tell them to boil the hell out of it.
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#10
In reply to #6

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/10/2014 9:15 AM

Wait, we're making containment walls ... for nuclear waste ... out of FOOD?

I know, I'm taking a factoid (something small that vaguely resembles a fact) and plowing it out of proportion. It's been one of those weeks where if I don't do SOMETHING crazy I'll end up going insane.

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Mossel Bay, SA
Posts: 777
Good Answers: 21
#13
In reply to #10

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/11/2014 2:45 AM

In that case...well done!!

Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
Posts: 33392
Good Answers: 1817
#3

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 4:51 PM

Extreme closeup....

__________________
All living things seek to control their own destiny....this is the purpose of life
Reply
2
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: About 4000 miles from the center of the earth (+/-100 mi)
Posts: 9913
Good Answers: 1141
#4

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 4:54 PM

Ingestion is a purely chemical phenomenon and has no effect on radioactivity, which involves the nucleus. So bacteria can't eat radioactivity and make it go away.

Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Large hole formally occupied by furry woodland creature.
Posts: 3385
Good Answers: 97
#5

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 5:08 PM

Landfills not radioactive pose a threat, especially industrial waste landfills. The EPA, OSHA and others don't have answers on how to handle or treat the leachates from these dumps, other than confirm that the ingredients combine during the journey to the bottom of the landfill to form other unidentified compounds. This varies from site to site. Can Bacteria take care of this?

__________________
CRTL-Z
Reply
2
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#7

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 11:17 PM

And what is the waste product of this bacteria? I'm sure that it's not rainbows.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1869
Good Answers: 67
#8

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/09/2014 11:52 PM

Misleading title. The fact that the waste is radioactive is incidental.

Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#11
In reply to #8

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/10/2014 10:11 AM

But that's sanitations problem now.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Mossel Bay, SA
Posts: 777
Good Answers: 21
#9

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/10/2014 2:51 AM

Interesting, but I doubt the digestion of radioactive materials reduces them to non-nuclides. What we do possibly have is a myriad bacteria passing radioactive turds.

You can change meat into mush by exhaustive mincing, but you can't turn it into bread.

Reply
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: by the beach in Florida
Posts: 33392
Good Answers: 1817
#14
In reply to #9

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/11/2014 2:09 PM

Tell that to my wife.....

__________________
All living things seek to control their own destiny....this is the purpose of life
Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#15
In reply to #14

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/11/2014 2:11 PM

mmmmmmm,,...... meeeeaaat looooaaffff.

Said in a Homer Simpson voice.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#16
In reply to #15

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/15/2014 4:41 PM

I love Meat Loaf! Paradise by the Dashboard Light simply ROCKS!

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#17
In reply to #16

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/15/2014 5:24 PM

Just don't pick it in kaoroke..... It's a long song.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#18
In reply to #17

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/07/2014 12:03 PM

Are you kidding, it was played at my cousin's wedding reception and we made a line dance out of it. Two lines, boys vs. girls. It was a blast, almost as much fun as the teenage makeout the song alludes to in the first movement and bridge.

(The 'baseball' section was just a general bobbing and swaying, with arms distance between the lines. We couldn't get too suggestive at that part, there were Catholic Grandmothers in the audience, nobody wanted this to be 'a wedding followed by a funeral.')

They also played Dead Man's Party at the reception, but it was played before the food was served, so we couldn't dance to it. But that's another story, and I think this has wandered far enough off topic for the OT flag.

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#19
In reply to #18

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/07/2014 2:53 PM

At a company I worked at, at the Christmas party they had karaoke, the owners nephew who thought high of himself sang it..... And it sure seemed long to me. ;)

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#20
In reply to #19

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/07/2014 4:04 PM

I'm a little confused at the sentence structure there.

Did you mean to say the owner's nephew thought highly of himself, or that you thought he was high when he was singing?

Your comment seems to work either way, and having met some 'owner's sons/nephews' both interpretations seem likely.

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#21
In reply to #20

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/07/2014 5:44 PM

The owners nephew thought he was born with talent.

He also goes on vacation a lot, so others who actually earn a living fixes his phuq-ups. Which is fine, with him gone, he at least isn't doing any more damage.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#22
In reply to #21

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/10/2014 10:18 AM

Sounds like a classic 'highly-valued, know-nothing Heir Apparent' situation.

With luck you'll be on to another company or retired before he moves into a position where he can do some REAL damage.

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#23
In reply to #22

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/10/2014 7:02 PM

I told the owner his nephew does not have his head in your business. The owner reminded me his nephew will soon be taking over the company. And I left when he did.

The owner had to come out of retirement because the customers were leaving.

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Been there, done that. Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 15602
Good Answers: 982
#24
In reply to #23

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/10/2014 9:40 PM

That's a better outcome than I expected.

Most people don't survive retirement.

__________________
"Don't disturb my circles." translation of Archimedes last words
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Hobbies - CNC - New Member Hobbies - DIY Welding - New Member Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 23647
Good Answers: 420
#25
In reply to #24

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/11/2014 12:47 AM

Ha,... Yes, he owes his nephew a lot...and his nephew has a job...... I guess it would be called.....Synergy

__________________
“ When people get what they want, they are often surprised when they get what they deserve " - James Wood
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Commodore 64 - New Member Popular Science - Evolution - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Illinois, 7 county region (The 'blue dot' that drags the rest of the 'red state' around during presidential elections.)
Posts: 3683
Good Answers: 89
#26
In reply to #23

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

11/11/2014 9:10 AM

Yeah....

What else is there to say to that but Q.E.D.

Quod Errat Demonstratum - Roughly translates to "I told you so," but less snarky.

__________________
( The opinions espressed in this post may not reflect the true opinions of the poster, and may not reflect commonly accepted versions of reality. ) (If you are wondering: yes, I DO hope to live to be as old as my jokes.)
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Cosmology - Let's keep knowledge expanding Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: North America, Earth
Posts: 4528
Good Answers: 106
#12

Re: Bacteria That Can Eat Radioactive Waste Discovered

09/10/2014 11:08 AM
__________________
“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” - Richard Feynman
Reply
Reply to Blog Entry 26 comments

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

adreasler (6); Crabtree (1); europium mkII (1); Hilton (2); kevinm (1); phoenix911 (8); redfred (2); Rixter (1); SolarEagle (2); StandardsGuy (1); Unredundant (1)

Previous in Blog: A New Concept for Shape-Shifting Architecture That Responds to Heat   Next in Blog: Humanoid Robot Nao Learns to Drive Its Own Car

Advertisement