Chernobyl, Godzilla and radiation eating mushrooms?

By Grayson Patrick Trent

​What is Radiotrophic Fungi?

​In the eerie aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, a revelation emerged from the shadows—the discovery of fungi not merely surviving but thriving in the heart of intense radiation.

This revelation sparked a journey into the uncharted territory of radiotrophic fungi, organisms seemingly drawn to and nourished by the very radiation that terrifies most life forms.

Radiotrophic fungi, a mysterious class of organisms with an uncanny ability to harness ionizing radiation for growth, have taken center stage in scientific exploration.

The story unfolds in the dark corridors of Reactor 4, where Ukrainian scientists stumbled upon a black, mould-like fungus displaying an astonishing resilience to gamma radiation. This marked the beginning of a scientific odyssey that would unravel the intricate relationship between fungi, melanin, and radiation.

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“My conviction is that we need to bring plant biologists into this field, people who know the photosynthetic process inside out,” says Dadachova. “When we start collaborating with those colleagues, then this field can really thrive.”

The driving force behind the radiotrophic phenomenon lies in melanin—a pigment with the power to absorb 99.9% of UV and visible light. Fungi like Wangiella dermatitidis and Cryptococcus neoformans, found in the radioactive ruins of Chernobyl, leverage melanin not only as a shield against radiation but as an energy transducer. Melanin, in these fungi, transforms into a unique mechanism capable of sensing and, intriguingly, harnessing the energy from ionizing radiation.

​In the quest to demystify the role of melanin, Professor Ekaterina Dadachova and her colleagues embarked on a series of laboratory experiments. They revealed that melanin-rich fungal cells grew faster and accumulated more biomass in the presence of high radiation. The fungi's transcriptome and metabolism underwent significant transformations, shedding light on the profound impact of radiation on these organisms.

​Could these fungi replace traditional plants in arid regions, producing valuable sugars and biomaterials?

​The Chernobyl fungi's melanin forms concentric layers, creating a formidable dark shell. The researchers found that exposure to ionizing radiation altered the electrochemical structure of fungal melanin, enhancing its ability to act as a reducing agent and transfer electrons. This discovery paved the way for a theory suggesting that fungi might utilize ionizing radiation as a source of energy—a revelation with implications reaching beyond our terrestrial boundaries.

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Life on Earth dawned in an era of higher radiation levels, and fungi, as sophisticated eukaryotes, evolved melanin as a defense mechanism. In the fungal world, melanin became the guardian of the genome, offering protection against environmental insults and predators. Fungi, adept at living in soil teeming with challenges, developed thick layers of melanin in their cell walls, becoming the planet's melanin specialists.

​So what?
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Synthetic melanins could shield against radiation, and fungi might play a role in bioremediation of radioactive waste. Professor Dadachova envisions using melanin to protect patients undergoing radiation therapies and is even collaborating on melanin-based spacesuits for astronauts.

​The prospect of radiotrophic fungi contributing to renewable energy and biomaterials opens new frontiers. Could these fungi replace traditional plants in arid regions, producing valuable sugars and biomaterials? Speculative ideas extend to the realms of space, envisioning radioprotective fungi as self-replicating building materials for extraterrestrial colonies.
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Yet, in the midst of these possibilities, the realm of radiotrophic fungi remains shrouded in mystery. Collaborations between mycologists and plant biologists, akin to the symbiotic relationship between fungi and radiation, hold the key to unlocking the full potential of this extraordinary life form.

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Radiotrophic fungi are like nature's mystery detectives, helping us learn new things about how living things can survive and change. They show us that fungi, melanin (a special color), and radiation (strong energy) might be really important for keeping living things safe and happy. Imagine we're explorers, stepping into a world of fungi we don't know much about. ​

​We're asking a big question: What else can these strange fungi teach us about how living things work with energy and light? It's like a cool adventure, discovering the secrets of how life and energy can be friends.

​Read more, here.

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