One Interested Finding of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
The researchers who investigated the deserted Chernobyl facility found a new species of black fungus living in the super-radiated habitat. The fungus does not seem to die because of exposure but rather it seems to become stronger because it is nourished by the radiation itself.
Radiation and Eating Elephants.
This extraordinary fungus is capable of a process which is referred to as radiosynthesis just like plants using sunlight to generate energy. The fungus absorbs ionizing radiation instead of photons and transforms them into biological growth.
The Secret of Radiation Absorption Melanin.
The fungus has large amounts of melanin which is the same pigment as human skin. Melanin molecules are also useful in absorbing radiation and converting them to useful forms of chemical energy, thus enabling the growth of the fungus to occur in harsh conditions.
Survival of the Fungus in Deadly Conditions.
The radiation level would kill majority of the life forms at Chernobyl. But this fungus which has been mutated does not simply survive, but it grows. Its DNA is enclosed within its melanin structure which responds by repairing radiation damage in a short time.
Scientific Discovery That Rattled the World.
The researchers were shocked when they first saw the fungus on the walls of the destroyed reactor growing there. Life thriving in one of the most radioactive regions of the earth blurred all the knowledge on the topic of survival biology.
Future in Space Exploration Research.
NASA and space agencies are working on the fungus since it could shield the astronauts against cosmic radiations. One day shields made of melanin may be used to protect spacecrafts against radiation outside the magnetosphere of the earth.
Medical Technology implications.
The fact that the fungus can repair radiation-damaged cells provides avenues of medical intervention in the future. Scientists think that melanin-based structures may be used to develop solutions to radiation burns and cancer resistance to radiation.
Potential application in Nuclear Waste Cleanup.
Since the fungus absorbs and neutralizes radiation the fungus can be applied in bioremediation - cleaning radioactive waste sites. This would assist in decontaminating nuclear accidents areas in a safer and less costly way.
The way to understand Radiosynthesis: A New Biological Frontier.
The radio synthesis is a miracle in biology. The radiation is transformed into electrons by the fungus that supports metabolic activities. This channels fatal energy into life sustaining energy.
The Evolution and Role of Mutation.
This species of fungus has mutated due to decades of contacts with radiations of Chernobyl. The ability to endure radiation was selected by the natural selection, and it became possible to create living organisms that would use radiation as a source of energy.
Thriving in Total Darkness
This fungus can be grown in pitch-dark settings in which light is substituted with radiation unlike plants which depend on sunlight. It shows a totally new energy harvesting that is barely witnessed in nature.
Deep-Earth and Extreme Environments.
Radiosynthetic organisms are capable of surviving in underground caves, the ice of the Antarctic, or the volcanoes, - where life was pre- thought impossible.
Test lab experiments prove the growth of radiation.
Researchers put the fungus in the labs next to sources of radiation. It also increased more rapidly and intensely than the same samples stored out of radiation and this shows that radiation is a direct stimulator of its metabolism.
A Radiation shielding Prospective Development.
When added to materials, melanin would have the potential to enhance protective equipment, keeping medical workers, nuclear engineers, and astronauts unharmed by radiation.
Bioinspired Engineering in the Future.
The biologists dream about radiation-absorbing paints, self-renewable material and even energy-gathering buildings based on the special biology of this fungus.
Debriefing the Concepts of the Existence of Life.
The fungus compels scientists to redefine the meaning of life. It shows that life could evolve to survive on energy that was expected to be harmless to all organisms.
Provided that a fungus can survive on radiation on Earth, such similar organisms may also survive on other planets such as Mars, Europa, or Titan, which have limited amounts of sunlight but large amounts of radiation.
Dark Ecosystem at Public Fascination with Chernobyl.
The discovery has drawn the global interest. The concept of the life developing in a place that is associated with death is both spooky and encouraging and indicates the strength of nature.
The Revelation: A Fungus Thy Radiation Makes Life.
The Chernobyl fungus, which has been mutated, displays the amazing flexibility of nature. It nourishes nuclear radiation making it have new prospects in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, space exploration and environmental cleanup.