□ A research team led by Professor Seongkyun Kim of the Department of Physics and Chemistry, the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST; President Kunwoo Lee), successfully developed a solar-powered artificial plant device and rapidly purified soil contaminated with radioactive cesium. □ As radioactive cesium (Cs⁺) has a long half-life, it remains in the environment for a long time. While contaminated water can be purified with an adsorbent, it is a global challenge to purify soil as there is no alternative to scooping up and purifying the soil. □ Technology to purify contaminated soil based on the use of natural plants has been studied for a long time. The technology can be used to restore soil in agricultural land or accident sites severely contaminated by radioactive cesium.