[Shutsanonofre] This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl By Drinking Radiation—A Biologist Explains
Donna Gilmore
donnagilmore at gmail.com
Sat Dec 21 11:11:27 EST 2024
Alice, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.The radiation still exists. They don't focus on that in this nuclear propaganda article.Donna
-------- Original message --------From: Alice McNally <alimcnally8 at gmail.com> Date: 12/21/24 7:10 AM (GMT-08:00) To: Ray Lutz <raylutz at citizensoversight.org> Cc: shutsanonofre at citizensoversight.org Subject: Re: [Shutsanonofre] This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl By Drinking Radiation—A Biologist Explains Ray, this is fascinating! Could it be the savior we are looking for?Thanks for some positive info during the holidays.Have you run this by Ace Hoffman?Happy Holidays!Sent from my iPhoneOn Dec 20, 2024, at 2:59 PM, Ray Lutz <raylutz at citizensoversight.org> wrote:
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 2008 article 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.
An article 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—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 2008 article 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 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
Follow
I am
an American evolutionary biologist, based at Rutgers University,
where I specialize in biodiversity, evolution, and genomics. Drop
me a note, here.
Thanks for your readership and support.
--
-------
Ray Lutz
Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPs)
http://www.citizensoversight.org
619-820-5321
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