The word of the day is… We love mycoremediation around here — that’s to say, using fungi to absorb and eliminate toxic materials from the environment. The term was coined by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, who has voiced his advocacy for mycoremediation on multiple Joe Rogan Experience appearances. Fungi have already been shown to sequester toxic vanadium from the wetlands. Now, researchers are looking to use specialized fungi to remove radionuclides, a byproduct of nuclear power production. - Harsh diet Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the first organism found to grow in the contaminated area was a black fungus called Cladosporium sphaerospermum that thrived off the radioactive remains. - Toxic instability Radionuclides are atoms with an unstable nucleus that release radiation as they break down and become more stable. These can be harmful to human health and the environment. - Enter the fungi Halophilic fungi thrive in places with high salt concentrations. They can withstand conditions other fungi can’t. These halophilic fungi were put into controlled environments that mimic spots where radionuclides have polluted the soil and waters. - Eliminate the spread Halophilic fungi absorb the radionuclides from their surroundings and stabilize the contaminants in fungal cells. This process prevents the radionuclides from spreading further into the environment and food chains. - The big picture Fungi could be crucial to our environmental management strategies. This new mycoremediation research could transform how we approach and contain nuclear contamination.