Metal-Eating Bacteria Can Consume a Nail in Three Days: Can it Help Clean up Mine Sites?

Leptospirillum is a type of bacteria that rely on certain elements, in this instance iron, when they are unable to obtain any of its preferred foods. According to an AFP profile, Reales was working on using microbes to improve copper retrieval when she realized they could help even more by cleaning up the waste left behind by mining companies.