Radiation-Eating Fungus Discovered Inside Chernobyl Reactor Could Aid Space Travel

Clinging to the interior walls of one of the most radioactive buildings on Earth, scientists discovered a strange black fungus that appears to be 'eating' the radiation itself.

The fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, contains high levels of melanin — the same pigment that gives human skin its color and protects us from UV radiation.

This process, called radiosynthesis, is analogous to photosynthesis in plants, but instead of using light energy, the fungus uses ionizing radiation as its energy source.

The implications for space travel are profound. If we can harness this fungus or its melanin, we could create natural radiation shields for astronauts on long-duration missions.

These radiotrophic fungi could potentially be used to help clean up radioactive contamination on Earth, offering a biological solution to one of our most challenging environmental problems.