Protein outperforms humans in rare earth mining for green technology.

Scientists at Penn State have discovered a new mechanism by which bacteria can select between different rare earth elements, using the ability of a bacterial protein to bind to another unit of itself, or "dimerize," when it is bound to certain rare earths, but prefer to remain a single unit, or "monomer," when bound to others. By figuring out how this molecular handshake works at the atomic level, the researchers have found a way to separate these similar metals from one another quickly, efficiently, and under normal room temperature conditions. Harnessing this power could revolutionize all tech sectors by fundamentally changing how critical minerals like rare earths are harvested, leading to more efficient, greener mining and recycling practices.