Money doesn’t grow on trees, so the old saying goes, but gold just might on the Christmas trees of Lapland. In a new study, scientists have uncovered a clear link between bacteria living in Norway spruce needles and the formation of gold nanoparticles. If harnessed correctly, this knowledge could help guide gold hunters to hidden fortunes. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Trace amounts of metals can accumulate in plant tissues through a process known as biomineralization, in which microbes and oxidation help metal ions travel from the soil, up through stems, and into leaves.

And gold is no exception. It’s well-known that certain tree species, such as some eucalyptus species in Australia, can build up microscopic amoun

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