Did you know there’s a real bacteria that can turn toxic materials into gold? Its name is Cupriavidus metallidurans, and scientists call it the "gold-pooping bacteria". This rare microbe lives in metal-rich environments that would normally be poisonous to other living organisms, especially places full of copper and gold.

What makes this bacteria special is its unique survival mechanism. When toxic gold and copper compounds enter its body, they block its usual way of cleaning out harmful metals. But instead of dying, the bacteria switches to another method - it uses a special protein that converts these toxic compounds into safe gold particles. These particles are extremely small and are called gold nanoparticles, which are only visible under a microscope. Even though they’re tiny, they are pure gold.

This process is part of something called biomining, where bacteria are used to extract metals from waste, soil, or rocks. While this bacteria doesn’t produce enough gold for mining, it can be very useful in cleaning polluted areas or making gold for medical or tech use. Scientists first discovered this amazing ability in 2009, and since then, it has opened new doors for eco-friendly metal recovery.