German researchers using plants to mine germanium
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 08:20
in Earth & Climate
A team of researchers at Germany's Freiburg University of Mining and Technology has found a new way to get germanium (which was first discovered in that country and used in early transistors), according to a report from Reuters—they are mining it from plant shoots and roots. The shiny grey semi-metal has properties that make it a crucial material for use in semiconducting devices, such as computers and smartphones—also, because it is transparent when exposed to infra red light, it is used in parking sensors and smart steering systems—but it has been difficult to obtain. Most of it is now mined in China and exported around the world.