[Shutsanonofre] This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl By Drinking Radiation—A Biologist Explains

[Ray Lutz]

  This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl By Drinking Radiation—A
  Biologist Explains

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2024/11/02/this-black-fungus-might-be-healing-chernobyl-by-drinking-radiation-a-biologist-explains/

The explosion of the No. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 
near Pripyat, Ukraine on April 26, 1986 remains the worst nuclear 
disaster in human history. It left a 30-kilometer exclusion zone—a 
deserted landscape where high radiation levels remain even now, decades 
after the incident—where human settlement and habitation are restricted.

Within this zone, however, scientists have discovered an unlikely 
survivor: a resilient black fungus called/Cladosporium 
sphaerospermum./After the Chernobyl disaster, scientists observed 
patches of blackened growths on the walls of the No. 4 reactor—fungi 
that seemed to thrive where the radiation was highest.

This fungus has adapted to a level of radiation that would be lethal for 
most life forms. Even more fascinating is its ability to “feed” on this 
radiation, using it as a source of energy, similar to how plants use 
sunlight for photosynthesis.

Further research discovered that/C. sphaerospermum/and some other black 
fungi species, like/Wangiella dermatitis/and/Cryptococcus 
neoformans,/possessed melanin, the pigment responsible for human skin 
color. However, in these fungi, the melanin served a different purpose: 
it absorbed radiation, which was then converted into usable energy, 
allowing it to grow in areas with intense radioactive exposure.

It’s a remarkable adaptation that offers a glimpse into how life can 
flourish in some of the most extreme and hostile places on the planet.

/Cladosporium sphaerospermum/belongs to a group of fungi known as 
radiotrophic fungi. Radiotrophic organisms can capture and utilize 
ionizing radiation to drive metabolic processes.

In the case of/C. sphaerospermum,/its high melanin content allows it to 
absorb radiation, similar to how plants absorb sunlight through 
chlorophyll, according to an October 2008article 
<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2677413/>published in 
the/National Library of Medicine/.

While this process is not identical to photosynthesis, it serves a 
comparable purpose and converts energy from the environment to sustain 
growth. This phenomenon, called radiosynthesis, has opened up exciting 
avenues in biochemistry and radiation research.

Melanin, found in many living organisms, acts as a natural shield 
against UV radiation. However, in/C. sphaerospermum,/it does more than 
shield: it facilitates energy production by converting gamma radiation 
into chemical energy.

Anarticle 
<https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0000457>published 
in the journal/PLOS ONE/in 2007 confirmed this unusual energy production 
mechanism, showing that fungi like/C. sphaerospermum/grown in 
high-radiation environments tend to grow faster than those in 
non-radioactive conditions. It is a discovery that is reshaping 
scientists’ understanding of the survival strategies of*extremophiles* 
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2024/09/13/3-reasons-why-tardigrades-are-supernatural-spoiler-they-can-survive-in-space/>—organisms 
that can withstand extreme environmental conditions.


    Radiotrophic Fungi May Be An Ally In Battling Radiation

The discovery of/C. sphaerospermum/in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has 
brought renewed attention to radiotrophic fungi, particularly for their 
potential role in bioremediation—the process of using living organisms 
to remove pollutants from the environment.

In radioactive sites like Chernobyl, where conventional cleanup methods 
are challenging and hazardous, radiotrophic fungi can provide a safer, 
natural alternative, according to an April 2008article 
<https://academic.oup.com/femsle/article-abstract/281/2/109/474059?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false>published 
in/FEMS Microbiology Letters/. Since/C. sphaerospermum/can absorb 
radiation and use it as fuel, scientists are exploring the feasibility 
of deploying these fungi to contain and potentially reduce radiation 
levels in contaminated areas.

Beyond the borders of the exclusion zone, scientists are investigating 
other applications, especially in the field of space exploration. The 
harsh, radiation-heavy environment of space is one of the most 
significant challenges facing long-term missions to Mars and beyond.

/C. sphaerospermum/has already been sent to the International Space 
Station (ISS) for experiments to determine whether its unique radiation 
tolerance could protect astronauts from cosmic radiation.Early results 
<https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/roundup/2038>have been promising, 
suggesting that this fungus could potentially be used to develop 
radiation-resistant habitats or even provide radiation-shielded food 
sources for space travelers.


    The Power Of Adaptation To Drive Innovation

In addition to its unique feeding habits,/C. sphaerospermum/is also 
renowned for its hardiness. It can withstand low temperatures, high salt 
concentrations and extreme acidity, making it one of the most resilient 
fungi discovered.

Its ability to adapt to hostile environments has given researchers hope 
that it may hold clues for further studies into stress tolerance 
mechanisms, which could lead to advancements in biotechnology and 
agriculture. For example, genes responsible for this hardiness and 
resilience might one day be used to develop radiation-resistant 
materials or be adapted to help crops survive in harsh climates.

/C. sphaerospermum/also offers hope in addressing some pressing 
environmental challenges—could it possibly play a role in cleaning up 
radioactive waste, perhaps?

As research continues, the lessons we learn from this amazing fungi 
could inspire innovation in a wide range of fields, and in the process, 
understanding the boundaries of life itself.


Scott Travers <https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/>
Follow

I am an American evolutionary biologist, based at Rutgers University, 
where I specialize in biodiversity, evolution, and genomics. Drop me a 
note,here <https://buymeacoffee.com/scotttravers>. Thanks for your 
readership and support.


-- 
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Ray Lutz
Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPs)
http://www.citizensoversight.org
619-820-5321
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