Extracellular Protein-Metal Aggregates: A New Biosignature?

Deep inside a flooded mine in Wisconsin, scientists from NAIs University of California, Berkeley Team have discovered an environment in which bacteria emit proteins that sweep up metal nanoparticles into immobile clumps. Their finding may lead to innovative ways to remediate subsurface metal toxins, and have exciting implications for identifying biosignatures on Earth and other worlds. The research, published in the June 14th issue of Science, was done in collaboration with a team from the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. [Source: NAI Newsletter]