Space-faring fungi could be the secret to mining asteroid metals for future colonies
Microscopic fungi and bacteria may soon replace heavy machinery in space by using natural chemical processes to extract gold, platinum, and other precious metals from asteroid ore.
Biomining uses specialized microorganisms to break down rocks and isolate valuable minerals. Research conducted on the International Space Station in 2020 demonstrated that certain fungi and bacteria can successfully extract rare earth elements in microgravity. This biological approach is significantly more efficient than transporting heavy industrial mining equipment into orbit.
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