China invention turns desert sand into fertile soil in just 10 months

China has invented a method using 3.5 billion-year-old microbes to turn desert sand into fertile soil in just 10 months. These microbes stabilize sand and protect ecosystems, allowing restoration teams to plant shrubs and grasses. The process involves spraying lab-grown cyanobacteria on straw checkerboards, which harden into a cohesive layer that prevents wind erosion. This innovation accelerates the desert restoration process, which typically takes decades, to just a few years. However, long-term protection from vehicles and heavy foot traffic is necessary to maintain the restored surface.