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    “Scientists have identified a black fungus growing on the radioactive remains of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor that appears to have evolved the ability to feed on radiation. The species, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, uses a rare process known as radiosynthesis”


    “Scientists have identified a black fungus growing on the radioactive remains of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor that appears to have evolved the ability to feed on radiation. The species, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, uses a rare process known as radiosynthesis”

    by Worth-Boysenberry-93

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    View 40 Comments

    40 Comments

    1. Worth-Boysenberry-93 on

      “Many fungi have been isolated from the area around the destroyed Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, some of which have been observed directing their growth of hyphae toward radioactive graphite from the disaster, a phenomenon called “radiotropism”.

      Study has ruled out the presence of carbon as the resource attracting the fungal colonies, and in fact concluded that some fungi will preferentially grow in the direction of the source of beta and gamma ionizing radiation, but were not able to identify the biological mechanism behind this effect.

      It has also been observed that other melanin-rich fungi were discovered in the cooling water from some other working nuclear reactors.

      The light-absorbing compound in the fungus cell membranes had the effect of turning the water black. While there are many cases of extremophiles (organisms that can live in severe conditions such as that of the radioactive power plant), a hypothetical radiotrophic fungus would grow because of the radiation, rather than in spite of it.”

      For more and source on wiki click [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus)

    3. triggerhappytree on

      All this tells me is the earth gonna be fine after we obliterate ourselves. Nature is wild.

    4. triggerhappytree on

      All this tells me is the earth gonna be fine after we obliterate ourselves. Nature is wild.

    8. AsstBalrog on

      Sigh. Here we go. That stuff gets great big, and before you know it, it’s starring in horror movies.

    10. HumphryGocart on

      That is interesting as fuck! Amazing how resilient life is. It could be anywhere under the most extreme conditions in the universe and in forms that defy logic

    19. masochist-incarnate on

      Ngl I think if you made a deal with the devil to learn everything about fungi we understand and don’t understand yet, you’d be able to fix every problem in the world, and use fungi to get your soul back

    25. UndisciplinedSlave on

      What if the fungus keeps evolving into a fungus animal and roams to feed off all radiation and pollution in the air… 👻

    39. MLBnewestFan on

      I wonder whether we can intention utilize these fungis to help reduce radiation contamination and radioactive waste etc.

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