#FunFactFriday: Seaweed could be the answer to the critical mineral bottleneck that the future faces, on top of its potential uses for the biofuel and fertilizer markets. Is science getting lost in the weeds, or should we sea where this goes? News Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/07/critical-minerals-bottleneck-unblocked-by-weed-seaweed-that-is/

Mining for critical minerals without digging up the Earth, what a concept.

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/05/07/critical-minerals-bottleneck-unblocked-by-weed-seaweed-that-is/

Phytoremediation to Clean the Environment and Mine Critical Materials - Nickel contamination can render soils infertile at levels that are currently impra... - https://hackaday.com/2025/02/28/phytoremediation-to-clean-the-environment-and-mine-critical-materials/ #criticalmaterials #phytoremediation #bioengineering #camelinasativa #odontarrhena #heavymetals #phytomining #greenhacks #science #biology #botany #mining #plants

Camelina, a friendly li'l brassica is a superhero!
1. It cleans contaminated soils, slurping up nickel--which can then be harvested (phytomining!) for use
2. It improves the soil's fertility
3. Its oil can be used in biofuels.

"We believe that there is currently enough nickel in the barren soil in the U.S. to supply us for 50 years of phytomining,” says [phytoremediation prof] Dhankher.

#phytoremediation #phytomining #GreenTransition #UMass

https://www.umass.edu/news/article/scientists-umass-amherst-engineer-plant-based-method-precious-mineral-mining