The mysterious black fungus from Chernobyl that may eat radiation
13 days ago
- #Chernobyl
- #Space Exploration
- #Radiation
- Black mould found in Chernobyl appears to feed on radiation, a phenomenon called 'radiotropism'.
- The fungi contain melanin, which may act as a shield against ionising radiation and possibly harness its energy for growth, a process termed 'radiosynthesis'.
- Research suggests melanised fungi like Cladosporium sphaerospermum grow faster in radioactive environments and could block cosmic radiation in space.
- Potential applications include cleaning up radioactive sites and protecting astronauts from cosmic rays using fungal-based shielding ('myco-architecture').
- Experiments on the International Space Station showed fungi reduced radiation exposure, though the exact mechanism (melanin vs. other factors) remains unclear.