Ekaterina Dadachova and colleagues reported that melanised fungi may grow faster in the presence of radiation and potentially convert radiation into usable energy, though the mechanism remains under investigation.

Historical context recalls the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 30 km exclusion zone, framing longstanding questions about radiation’s impact on life and ecological adaptation.

Nelli Zhdanova, a Ukrainian scientist, first documented the fungus in May 1997, identifying Cladosporium sphaerospermum as the species involved.

Biochemical mechanisms for using radiation as energy are not fully proven, and some growth under radiation may reflect nutrient-stress responses rather than direct energy harvesting.

The same fungal strain traveled to the ISS in December 2018, where it grew about 1.21 times faster over 26 days than Earth controls, suggesting potential radiation-related growth advantages in microgravity.

A broader implication is the potential use of myco-architecture—fungus-based walls and materials—as lightweight, self-regenerating radiation shields for Moon or Mars bases, which could reduce launch costs compared with traditional materials.

Researchers are investigating whether this fungus could shield astronauts from cosmic rays or serve as a radiation-observing organism, while noting that further evidence from space experiments is needed.

Space-based experiments on melanin-rich fungi suggest they can absorb and attenuate radiation, pointing to possible protective layers for future space habitats, though results may be influenced by microgravity and require more context.

Potential applications include radiation shielding and bioremediation using radiation-tolerant fungi, with the possibility of protecting astronauts during space exploration.

Studies show radiotropism is not universal among fungi from Chernobyl; space-based experiments with Cladosporium sphaerospermum have yielded mixed results, including increased growth under galactic cosmic radiation.

Melanin-rich fungi were found growing inside Chernobyl’s reactor, with hyphae seemingly growing toward ionizing radiation rather than solely tolerating it.

Some researchers caution that observed growth boosts on the ISS could be influenced by zero gravity, not radiation alone, underscoring uncertainty about radiosynthesis as the mechanism.

The discovery challenges assumptions about the limits of life, suggesting extremophiles may be more resilient and carrying implications for astrobiology and life in harsh extraterrestrial environments.

Overall, melanin-rich fungi survive and may thrive in one of Earth’s most radioactive environments, prompting further study of their biology and possible applications.