Civilization is rooted in agriculture, and with increasing soil pollution, a lack of safe food threatens human health and resources. Soil is contaminated by industrial activity, and this contamination often hinders plant growth. In her research, Aviva Intveld discovered an improved method for removing these soil toxins. For her experiment, she deliberately contaminated soil by adding lead and cadmium. In this toxic soil, she planted tomatoes to remove the toxins through their roots, but these tomatoes were helped by a secret ingredient: fungus. An intricate network of fungi (called Mycorrhizal fungi) exists within the earth’s soil. These fungi symbiotically share nutrients with soil and plants. In Aviva’s research, these fungi took on a new role; rather than passing nutrients, they passed toxins. Over time, the Mycorrhizal fungi decontaminated the soil by transferring the soil’s lead and cadmium to the tomatoes. With close examination, Aviva found that the lead and cadmium was not concentrated within the tomato’s flower – indicating that the tomato did not threaten human health. Not only did Aviva’s tomatoes decontaminate soil, but the tomatoes themselves primarily carried these contaminants in their roots and stems leaving the flower safe for human health. With further research, Aviva’s tomato-fungus mechanism could act as an organic vacuum for toxic soil. Human health depends greatly on the safety of our agriculture, and Aviva’s research touches on a pivotal issue in this field. As future scientists build off of Aviva’s discovery, toxic soil could become a threat of the past.