An international team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery, recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. Scientists have revealed that a common fungus of the species Fusarium oxysporum has the astonishing ability to generate tiny gold particles on its surface by absorbing metals from mineral samples.
The study, led by Tsing Bohu at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), was based on an innovative experiment: the fungus was exposed to dust extracted from a meteorite found in the asteroid belt. This sample contained various minerals, including iron, calcium, and aluminum.
However, what truly astonished the research team was the organism’s unexpected response: after absorbing these elements, Fusarium oxysporum produced microscopic particles of pure gold.
This process is part of what scientists describe as the “biogeochemical cycle of gold” — a natural phenomenon in which microorganisms actively contribute to the formation, breakdown, and re-accumulation of precious metals. In this remarkable case, the fungus not only detects the presence of gold but appears to organically integrate it into its biological structure.
From Earth to Space
This discovery opens up exciting possibilities in the fields of mining and biotechnology. The ability of an organism to process minerals — especially of extraterrestrial origin — and isolate valuable metals paves the way for what researchers call “biometallurgy” in space environments.
Scientists are already exploring ways to optimize this gold-producing mechanism through genetic modification, with the aim of increasing its efficiency.
Although the amount of gold currently produced is minimal, the potential applications are immense. Integrating such biological processes into industrial operations could revolutionize metal extraction, offering a more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mining methods.
Gold has captivated humanity for millennia — but the idea that a humble fungus could become a “biological alchemist” might just be one of the most remarkable scientific breakthroughs of our time.
