Chernobyl Study Finds 37 Fungal Species Thriving in Radiation, Hinting at Space Shielding
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 14
Chernobyl Study Finds 37 Fungal Species Thriving in Radiation, Hinting at Space Shielding
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 14
Summary
Thirty-seven fungal species were identified inside Chernobyl’s Reactor No. 4 shelter, with the darkest melanized fungi concentrated in the highest-radiation zones.
Lab work dating to 2007 found some melanized species grew better under ionizing radiation—Wangiella dermatitidis showed enhanced growth, while Cladosporium cladosporioides mainly boosted melanin production.
A 2020 preprint experiment on the International Space Station found a layer of Cladosporium sphaerospermum blocked more radiation than a control, supporting a shielding effect.
Scientists have not proved “radiosynthesis”: reviews say there is still no demonstrated radiation-driven carbon fixation, defined biochemical pathway, or measurable energy gain from ionizing radiation.
That leaves the strongest near-term implication in materials and spaceflight, where radiation-tolerant fungi or fungal melanin could inform shielding for deep-space missions.