Chernobyl Fungus: How Radiotrophic Black Fungus Continues to Evolve and Survive

The discovery of Cladosporium sphaerospermum began with a surprising observation in 1991 inside the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear reactor No. 4.

A team of scientists from the Kyiv Institute of Microbiology and Virology observed the growth of a strange black fungus on walls and in pools of radioactive water, which appeared to thrive in areas with the highest radiation levels.

This fungus belongs to the group of radiotrophic fungi, which have the unique ability to capture and utilize ionizing radiation as an energy source.

One of the distinctive characteristics of the Chernobyl fungus is its high content of the pigment melanin, the same pigment that gives human skin its color.

The melanin in this fungus not only serves as protection from ultraviolet radiation, but also absorbs gamma radiation and converts it into usable chemical energy for metabolic processes, a phenomenon called radiosynthesis.

This process is fundamentally similar to photosynthesis in plants, but uses ionizing radiation instead of sunlight.

In addition to its ability to utilize radiation, C. sphaerospermum is also known for its remarkable resilience.

This fungus can survive and thrive in conditions of low temperatures, high salt concentrations, and extreme acidity, making it one of the most resilient organisms ever discovered.

Research has shown that melanin-containing fungi like C. sphaerospermum tend to grow faster in environments exposed to gamma or ionizing radiation.

This indicates that radiation is not only tolerated but can actually enhance growth or even act as a primary energy source for the Chernobyl fungus.

This phenomenon is enhanced by "radiotropism," where fungal hyphae grow toward the radiation source.

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, with its high radiation levels decades after the incident, provides an ideal habitat for these fungi.

Radiotrophic fungi not only survive but also thrive at radiation levels that would be lethal to most other life forms on Earth.

Some fungi even have the ability to digest "hot particles," pieces of graphite from the destroyed reactor contaminated with long-lived radionuclides.

Despite its unique shape and physiology, as it grows in a radioactive area like Chernobyl, this fungus is essentially harmless to humans, as reported by Forbes.

The fungus itself is neither radioactive nor toxic under normal circumstances.

While some common species, such as Cladosporium, can cause mild allergies in sensitive individuals, the Chernobyl strain is neither toxic nor infectious to healthy people and is being studied for its potential use in radiation protection.

In fact, the fungus's unique capabilities have opened the door to research into its revolutionary potential applications.

Scientists are exploring the use of radiotrophic fungi for bioremediation, cleaning up and potentially reducing radiation levels in contaminated areas.

Experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have shown that he fungus has been shown to reduce radiation levels in space by approximately two percent.

Further studies on the ISS even showed that mushrooms can block and absorb up to 84 percent of space radiation.