2 ms·

Nothing against bioremediation. But wake me up once they release large quantities of those algae into the waters around Fukushima. I am not holding my breath.

• 700ravens 16y ago
  > this algae seems to only help with one kind of isotope Not quite. This organism metabolizes one atomic species. (Actually, two, if you read the original paper, you'll see that this algae metabolizes barium much more readily than strontium. And I suspect it spends most of its life cycle metabolizing calcium or magnesium since those are much more abundant.) Very few organisms are sensitive to isotope, and then, not very strongly. That said, you are probably correct in assuming that the authorities there will rely upon "natural attenuation", which is the fancy term for "waiting for it to dilute on its own". Of course, you, too, could have chosen much less cynical language... "Wake me up" ... really? Are you a 12-year-old?