Radiation Eating Fungi in Chernobyl Shows Nature’s Resilience
Life truly does seem to find a way. Recently, radiotrophic (radiation eating) fungi were discovered at the site of Chernobyl. This fungus is known as a “radiation extremophile”, and has a high concentration of melanin (1). The high concentration of melanin allows the fungus to absorb radiation and convert it into harmless chemical energy through a process called “radiosynthesis”. (2) While scientists have known about this possibility since 2007, the natural occurrence of the fungi exemplifies nature’s unique ability to adapt. After Chernobyl, the ecosystem of its surrounding city seemed to be permanently destroyed. However, the emergence of this fungus shows otherwise. By removing life-inhibiting radiation, the fungus can allow for biodiversity to reemerge in Chernobyl.
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But, how does this fungus absorb radiation? Cryptococcus neoformans produce melanin, which allows it to perform metabolic chemical reactions to decompose radioactive matter. (2) To learn more about this process, researchers from the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab sent samples of this species to the International Space Station (ISS) to see how it would react to excess UV radiation in space. (3) Even though the results of this study are yet to be published, at least two possibilities are opened with the utilization of the fungus. First, if the fungus reacts positively to UV radiation in space, then, its energy-producing capabilities could be used to feed astronauts purely from radiation. Second, the fungus’s radiation absorbing characteristics could be used to create drugs that would protect astronauts from radiation.
While the fungi’s human use is yet to be developed, its mere existence exemplifies Mother Nature’s perpetual ability to adapt. The accident at Chernobyl was one of humanity’s many tests against Earth’s natural equilibrium. Just like plants rely on bees to pollinate, so do the various parts of the ecosystems on Earth rely on each other to keep them moving. After a catastrophic hurricane, affected ecosystems can recover stronger than ever. The radiotrophic fungus is evidence that Chernobyl is no different. While ecosystems can recover from natural disasters, recovery from man-made disaster shows nature’s unique resilience. The consequence of Chernobyl seemed unsolvable for humans, yet, years after the incident, nature took its course and radiotrophic fungi were found. It seems true that life always finds a way.
Zhdanova, Nelli N et al. “Ionizing radiation attracts soil fungi.” Mycological research vol. 108,Pt 9 (2004): 1089–96. doi:10.1017/s0953756204000966
Dadachova, Ekaterina, and Arturo Casadevall. “Ionizing Radiation: How Fungi Cope, Adapt, and Exploit with the Help of Melanin.” Current Opinion in Microbiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677413/.
Martin, Sean. “Chernobyl News: Fungi Discovered in Nuclear Reactor Which EATS Radiation.” Express.co.uk, Express.co.uk, 12 Feb. 2020, www.express.co.uk/news/science/1238320/chernobyl-news-radiation-nasa-chernobyl-nuclear-reactor-fungi.
“Microbes in Space: JPL Researcher Explores Tiny Life.” NASA, NASA, 3 June 2016, www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6525.
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