Bacteria Transform Toxic Uranium into Stable Compound Underground

August 9, 2026

Deep underground, scientists have discovered a remarkable capability in certain bacteria: they can trap toxic uranium and convert it into a stable form that prevents its spread.

In an experiment feeding glycerol to microbes in contaminated mine water, researchers observed about 95% of dissolved uranium disappearing within 130 days.

This transformation into a rarely seen stable compound could have significant implications for managing radioactive contamination and environmental remediation efforts.

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Scientists discover bacteria that lock toxic uranium into a stable form

Deep underground, bacteria may be capable of doing something remarkable: trapping toxic uranium before it spreads. When researchers fed microbes in uranium-contaminated mine water with glycerol, about 95% of the dissolved uranium disappeared within 130 days. The bacteria helped convert it into an unusually stable uranium compound that had rarely been observed before.