Chinese scientists discover rare earth metals in plants for the first time

Scientists from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have for the first time detected rare earth elements (REEs) in living plants, China Daily reported.

The phenomenon was observed in the fern Blechnum orientale, where researchers found the formation of the mineral monazite-(La), a lanthanum-bearing compound.

According to the team, the plant acts as a “biological vacuum,” absorbing rare earths from the environment and converting them into nanoscale phosphate crystals — a safe, non-radioactive analogue of natural monazite.

The finding could pave the way for eco-friendly extraction methods for rare earth metals, which are in global shortage due to supply chain disruptions and growing demand in high-tech industries.