Microbes Leave Gold on Corpses, May Complicate Forensics

Yahoo News ^ | 2-25-10 | Charles Q. Choi, LiveScience Contributor

[cajuncow]

Metals found in the hair of corpses have solved all kinds of mysteries. For instance, high levels of arsenic found in Napoleon's hair suggest the former emperor of France might have been poisoned to death, intentionally or unintentionally.

However, scientists now find that bacteria can sprinkle gold dust onto the hair of corpses, which suggests microbes could deposit arsenic and other poisonous metals on bodies as well, potentially complicating criminal and archaeological investigations.

[freedumb2003]

“Why do microbes
suddenly appear
every time
you are near...”

[AnglePark]

Can I get enough of these microbes together to make some gold bars?

[Hegewisch Dupa]

depends how many corpses you have laying around

[autumnraine]

Gives a whole new meaning to the song “Gold Dust Woman.”

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Actually, on the grand scale, this raises a very interesting possibility.

Minerals tend to concentrate underground, with the movement of water, up and down, and hot and cold. But if microbes are involved in moving minerals, “from the cafeteria to the lavatory”, as it were, from their point of view, it might explain many things.

Bacteria are already used to separate precious metals from a water and ore slurry. Ideally, they eat the metal from the rock, and their waste floats to the surface, where it can be skimmed off. This saves lots of money in the concentration process.

[Yardstick]

Is there anything microbes can’t do?

[Cold Heart]

Ducks in the wind, all we are is ducks in the wind.

[TexGuy]

Aggggghhh! ... and all this time I have been killing the microbe that layed the golden egg.

[JoeProBono]

[naturalized]

So when is Fallon going to sing “I’ve been a miner for a germ of gold?”

[cajuncow]

http://www.snopes.com/movies/video/gold2.rm

[JoeProBono]

[dangerdoc]

Microscopic treasure bump

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks cajuncow. For instance, high levels of arsenic found in Napoleon's hair... Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[PghBaldy]

The Cha-Cha.