The centuries-old Bras del Port Saltworks, a vital ecosystem on the Mediterranean coast, are once again in the spotlight of scientific innovation. A recent study published in Scientific Reports has revealed the promising potential of bacterioruberin, a pigment derived from a microorganism called Haloferax mediterranei, in the fight against myeloid leukaemia. This breakthrough underlines the importance of preserving and studying unique natural environments like our saltworks, which act as authentic biological laboratories. The Origin of the Research: The Bras del Port Connection The research highlights that the Haloferax mediterranei strain used in this pioneering study has its roots in samples taken from the Bras del Port Saltworks, as this halophilic archaea (organisms that need high salinity environments to live) resides in the lagoons of our saltworks. This fact fills us with satisfaction, as it confirms the value of our environment not only for the production of high-quality sea salt but also as an invaluable source of microbial biodiversity with biotechnological and biomedical applications. Key Advances in the Fight Against Leukaemia The study, led by a multidisciplinary team, has shown that bacterioruberin-rich carotenoid extract (BRCE) from Haloferax mediterranei is capable of inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) and arresting the cell cycle [...]