Its habitat has dried up, now a test-tube program is saving the legendary water lily near Nagyvárad

Biologists from Hungary and Romania are working to save the unique thermal water lily near Oradea through laboratory cloning and creating new habitats. The project, part of the CleanAIR Interreg program, aims to restore the species that has nearly vanished due to environmental changes and illegal water extraction. Researchers are using in vitro techniques to multiply the plants while assessing the conditions needed for their survival and potential reintroduction. Additionally, they are exploring the plant's ability to filter pollutants from water, including household chemicals and possibly radioactive substances.