Nature’s Cleanup Crew: A New Solution to Nuclear Waste

Goats are known for being able to eat almost anything. But newly discovered bacteria make goats look downright finicky. The bacteria can eat nuclear waste, using radioactive elements like uranium in place of oxygen. In the process, they convert these elements from a form that’s dissolvable in water to one that’s not. When buried deep underground, the insoluble waste won’t then seep into the soil, one of the biggest worries about nuclear energy.

The waste-eating bacteria were discovered in England, where there’s enough nuclear waste to fill Wembley Stadium four times. Most of it is currently stored in ponds and silos but the government plans to dispose of much of it deep underground, in bunkers encased in cement. Cement is highly alkaline, similar to bleach, and microbes weren’t expected to be able to live in such conditions. But studies at a lime kiln site with similar alkalinity showed that they do just fine. And the radiation level at nuclear dump sites doesn’t kill them; it actually stimulates them.

These unusual bacteria also prevent the escape of radioactive gases. Within the cement bunker, chemical reactions could produce hydrogen. If it builds up and creates enough pressure, the hydrogen could crack the cement. But the bacteria utilize the hydrogen, keeping levels low and avoiding cracks.

In the U.S., there are 55 nuclear power plants in 28 states, producing about 18% of the country’s power needs. Nuclear power is clean in the sense that it doesn’t emit carbon into the atmosphere. But concerns about toxic waste stopped new construction for almost 40 years. There are still many other issues with nuclear energy but these newly discovered bacteria could help us deal with the waste we already have.