ScienceJuly 13, 2026
phytoremediation
/ˌfaɪtoʊriˌmiːdiˈeɪʃən/
Definition
A technique that uses plants to remove, degrade, or stabilize contaminants from soil or other growth media.
Etymology
The word combines the Greek 'phyton' (plant) and the Latin 'remedium' (remedy or cure), with the suffix '-ation' denoting a process. It emerged in the late 20th century to describe the use of vegetation for environmental cleanup.
In the news
In the context of the article, phytoremediation is proposed as a key strategy for cleaning perchlorate-contaminated Martian soil to make it viable for agricultural use. It represents a biological approach to converting harsh extraterrestrial regolith into a living soil.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,207 10 July 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology Web