Two researchers (microbiologist Kazem Kashefi and electronic artist Adam Brown from Michigan State University), who discovered that a particular bacteria – Cupriavidus metallidurans – can feed on gold(III) chloride, a particularly nasty and toxic liquid, and effectively excrete pure 24-carat gold into nuggets. It’s believed that the bacteria plays a vital role in creating the gold nuggets that are found in nature, with the two researchers finding it’s approximately 25 times more resilient than other bacteria at surviving the task. So, of course, they’ve turned their research into a piece of art.

How is this possible?