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

  • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    1 hour ago

    What was it again. A bacteria in a pocket in some Uran mine, that directly uses radiation as energy source? Might be yet another mechanism.

  • Goretantath@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    4 hours ago

    Does this fungus “eat” the radiation, as in we can use it to clean up radioactive areas? Cause that’d be nice.

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      1 hour ago

      You mean, digesting one of the dotzens of toxic Uran derivatives to thin air? I don’t think so.

    • Treczoks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      3 hours ago

      Sadly, no. Radioactive processes happen without any external control (at least not on this level, they don’t run a reactor or accelerator), and this fungus only harvests the energy.

    • Deconceptualist@leminal.spaceEnglish
      12·
      4 hours ago

      Well if it just evolved this ability that suggests it found a unique niche. But it probably hasn’t optimized this, since it doesn’t have any pressure to compete against other organisms for the radiation source.

      But the good news is that we could selectively breed the fungus, or even generically engineer it (once the genes are isolated) to maximize the ability much faster.

      I don’t know how useful it would be for site cleanup but it might at least become good insulation (like the idea of space station shielding mentioned in the article).

    • Destide@feddit.ukEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Like everything nuclear, it’s a double edge sword. Clearing up nuclear power would be amazing. People knowing they can Nuke something and eradicate the after effects quickly

  • DandomRude@lemmy.worldEnglish
    111·
    4 hours ago

    The evidence that the fungi overlords will soon take over continues to mount…that’s why I don’t eat mushrooms…better safe than sorry…

  • zabadoh@ani.socialEnglish
    42·
    7 hours ago

    You want Hulk fungi?

    Because this is how you get Hulk fungi.

    It’s even approximately that shade of green.

  • altphoto@lemmy.todayEnglish
    33·
    3 hours ago

    Extract the gene and inject it into a roach. Then encode human DNA into roach eggs and fly those roaches to Mars. After a few generations we would have a fully grown man roach able to feed off the radiation. That’s as far as I’ve gotten that idea. Oh man, tomorrow is another fuckin Monday. But we’re just 5 more weeks from 2026 can’t wait to 2029 when we’ll have a new president. Thanks electoral college! Without you we wouldn’t be able to choose the most retarded possible person for the job. I hope you guys eat some psychedelics this time around. Sure we could also choose whatever the public picks. Wait, what was the question?