Ecology & Biology

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Review

Radiation-Eating Fungi Could Shield Astronauts and Clean Nuclear Waste

Radiation-Eating Fungi Could Shield Astronauts and Clean Nuclear Waste

Radiotrophic fungi

What they found

Melanin-rich radiotrophic fungi from Chernobyl absorb radiation, reducing it by up to 2.4% in experiments.

Melanin-rich radiotrophic fungi from Chernobyl absorb radiation, reducing it by up to 2.4% in experiments.

The number

reducing radiation by up to 2.4%

How solid is it?

Review

Review

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Compound

melanin

melanin

Published in

rsdjournal.org

rsdjournal.org

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Radiation-Eating Fungi

Radiation-Eating Fungi

Radiotrophic fungi, found in Chernobyl and tested on the ISS, absorb radiation and store radionuclides like cesium and uranium. Melanin in these fungi enables them to convert radiation into energy, reducing radiation by up to 2.4% in experiments. These fungi offer potential for nuclear waste cleanup, radiation shields for space travel, and biosensors.

Radiotrophic fungi, found in Chernobyl and tested on the ISS, absorb radiation and store radionuclides like cesium and uranium. Melanin in these fungi enables them to convert radiation into energy, reducing radiation by up to 2.4% in experiments. These fungi offer potential for nuclear waste cleanup, radiation shields for space travel, and biosensors.

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