The Chernobyl exclusion zone may be off-limits to humans, but ever since the Unit Four reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded nearly 40 years ago, other forms of life have not only moved in but survived, adapted, and appeared to thrive.

“That fungus is called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, and some scientists think its dark pigment – melanin – may allow it to harness ionizing radiation through a process similar to the way plants harness light for photosynthesis. This proposed mechanism is even referred to as radiosynthesis.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/39553283 https://libretechni.ca/post/483480

  • a4ng3l@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    5 days ago

    It eats the radiation, not its source though. The emitter would have to be removed. Maybe it could be used in shielding ? Like in space where background radiation seems to be a problem.

    • _stranger_@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      5 days ago

      It needs carbon to grow, so it would be a CO2 scrubber AND a source of food assuming it’s edible. 🤔🤔🤔

      • a4ng3l@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        5 days ago

        I would not be eating something with a radioactive-based diet in space… that’s like 2 steps away from opening the gates of hell of something like that xD

        • thebestaquaman@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          5 days ago

          Fantastic thing though: It doesn’t “eat” radiation in the sense that it becomes radioactive itself. It just absorbs the energy from the radiation, like plants absorb sunlight, to power a synthesis that lets it convert CO2 to organic material.