Chernobyl's Radiation-Eating Fungus Could Help Shield Space Travelers from Cosmic Rays
By
bookmtn
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
Scientists discovered a black fungus growing in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site that appears to feed on radiation. Research shows these fungi grow toward radioactive particles and may have potential applications for radiation shielding, particularly for space travel where cosmic rays pose a threat to astronauts. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about how radiation impacts life.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe mould – formed from a number of different fungi – seemed to be doing something remarkable.
Zhdanova had found in previous surveys of soil around Chernobyl that the fungi were actually growing towards the radioactive particles that littered the area.
Now, she found that they had reached into the original source of the radiation, the rooms within the exploded reactor building.
Zhdanova's work has also overturned our ideas about how radiation impacts life.
Could we use it to shield space travellers from cosmic rays?
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