Where fungi thrive amidst radiation

Where humans die, fungus thrives: Something very strange is happening in Chernobyl

Studies comparing fungal growth under radiation with control environments have found that melanised fungi, such as Cladosporium sphaerospermum, accumulate biomass faster in radioactive settings. These fungi seem to use the radiation as an energy source, a phenomenon that is rare and notable.

The phenomenon

Melanised fungi contain melanin, a pigment that not only protects them from radiation but might also convert radiation into chemical energy, supporting their growth.
In areas like Chernobyl, where radiation levels are high and human presence is minimal, these fungi flourish, colonizing surfaces including the walls of the damaged nuclear reactor.

Research insights

Scientists have observed these fungi thriving on the reactor’s surfaces where humans cannot survive due to intense radioactivity.
The growth rate of these fungi in radioactive zones exceeds their growth in normal environments.
This unique adaptation enables fungi not only to survive but to thrive where conditions are lethal to other life forms.

"Where humans die, fungus thrives," captures the paradox of such ecosystems, underscoring how life persists in extreme conditions through unexpected biological mechanisms.

Implications

Understanding fungi’s radiation absorption and conversion abilities could inspire new technologies for radiation protection or bioremediation in contaminated environments. This research opens avenues for studying extremophiles—organisms that survive hostile conditions—and unlocking their potential benefits.

This phenomenon demonstrates how life adapts remarkably to extreme radiation, using melanin to convert harmful energy into growth, challenging traditional views on survival in radioactive zones.

WION — 2025-11-29

Where humans die, fungus thrives: Something very strange is happening in Chernobyl

The phenomenon

Research insights

Implications

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