Species in Chernobyl disaster zone is mutating to feed on nuclear radiation
- MORE: The mutants of Chernobyl: How radiation exposure has forced animals to mutate in incredible ways
Nearly 40 years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, scientists have discovered a form of life that's thriving on the radiation that's been left behind.
A strange black fungus called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, found growing on abandoned reactor walls, hasn't just learned to survive the deadly fallout, but several strains now grow faster when radiation is present and even move towards it.
Recent studies of the fungus at Chernobyl noted that only a small fraction of the dark fungi, nine of the 47 strains tested, displayed this 'radiation-hunting' behavior.
These strains were found to turn gamma rays, the most powerful and dangerous kind of radiation from nuclear explosions, into chemical energy, just like normal plants convert the sun's light during photosynthesis.
C. sphaerospermum is believed to get its radiation-eating superpower from melanin, the pigment that gives humans their skin color, although researchers have said this is still just a theory they've dubbed radiosynthesis.
Now, scientists at NASA are exploring how to create 'fungal bricks' using the mold, which would serve as lightweight building materials that could protect moon or Mars bases from cosmic radiation far better than heavy lead shields.
On the International Space Station (ISS), this fungus grew 21 times faster when exposed to space radiation and blocked a large amount of it from penetrating other surfaces, making it a serious candidate for defending future astronauts.
This radiation-blocking ability could be a game-changer for scientists, as tests have shown C. sphaerospermum trapped and neutralized radioactive particles, according to a study published in PLOS One.
A dark green mold known as Cladosporium sphaerospermum has been found to feed on nuclear radiation, making it a potential building material for future moon bases
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear meltdown that began on April 26 in Ukraine, which was until the control of the Soviet Union at the time
Because of this, the fungus is considered a radiotrophic fungus, as 'radio' refers to radiation and 'trophic' refers to feeding or converting something into usable energy.
In human skin and that of many other organisms, melanin acts as a shield against harmful UV radiation from the sun.
However, when a gamma ray hits the melanin of Chernobyl mold, it knocks its electrons around and creates chemical energy at the atomic level, which the fungus can then use to grow and repair itself, scientists later revealed in the journal Current Opinion in Microbiology.
This extra energy might explain why some strains stretch out their tiny thread-like parts straight toward the radiation, like the fungus is reaching out to 'snack' on it for a boost when regular food is hard to find inside the ruined reactor.
This could make it a key substance for cleaning up nuclear waste sites on Earth as well as blocking harmful radiation astronauts may encounter during NASA's planned missions to the moon, starting in 2026.
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear meltdown that began on April 26 and led to the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history.
Following the tragic disaster, residents were evacuated from Chernobyl and the surrounding areas to avoid the extreme levels of radiation. From then on, the site was known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ).
The 30-mile area was established by the military of the Soviet Union, which controlled Ukraine at the time. It was briefly recaptured by Russian forces during the country's 2022 invasion.
The frogs around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have become darker due to their bodies blocking out deadly radiation
C. sphaerospermum under a microscope. The fungus has been found to turn dangerous gamma rays into energy
Public access was forbidden due to the radioactive contamination, and the area remains largely deserted today, making it a haven for wildlife, from feral dogs to wild horses.
However, these animals may also hold the key to future medical breakthroughs, as studies have revealed that mutated wolves roaming the wasteland of Chernobyl have developed genetically altered immune systems that show a resilience to cancer.
In 2014, Cara Love, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University, travelled to the CEZ with a team of researchers to understand how animals have been able to survive the cancer-causing radiation.
They took blood samples from the local wolves and placed GPS collars with radiation dosimeters on them to get real-time measurements of where they were and their radiation exposure levels.
The analysis revealed that a number of their genes, which are linked to cancer, had new mutations, suggesting they had evolved to protect against the radiation.
It is hoped that the discovery could pave the way for experts to identify mutations in humans that reduce their cancer risk.
Meanwhile, Chernobyl's tree frogs haven't just evolved to be darker in color; the melanin-induced changes have allowed frogs to produce healthier offspring that carry on this protection against nuclear radiation.
