新发现：植物体内不仅有稀土，还能成矿！

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of rare earth element biomineralization in the plant "Ophioglossum" presents a sustainable and cleaner method for rare earth extraction, addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional mining practices [1][5]. Group 1: Discovery and Significance - Researchers from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry have identified a rare earth biomineralization phenomenon in the "Ophioglossum" plant, marking the first instance of such a discovery in natural plants [1]. - The plant acts as a "rare earth vacuum cleaner," efficiently absorbing and concentrating rare earth elements from the soil, which are then precipitated as nanoparticles and crystallized into rare earth phosphate minerals [1][5]. Group 2: Mechanism and Implications - The process observed is a self-protective mechanism of the plant, where it "packages" potentially harmful rare earth ions into a mineral structure, effectively detoxifying them [2]. - The "biological monazite" formed under natural conditions is pure and non-radioactive, offering a promising green extraction alternative compared to traditional monazite, which often contains radioactive elements [4]. Group 3: Future Applications - This research not only enhances understanding of plant mineralization mechanisms but also opens new avenues for studying over a thousand known hyperaccumulating plants [5]. - Utilizing hyperaccumulating plants like "Ophioglossum" could lead to sustainable rare earth resource recovery while simultaneously remediating contaminated soils and restoring ecosystems, achieving a "repair and recovery" green cycle [5].