Some fungi thrive on radiation, not light
Melanized fungi found within the Chernobyl reactor core use radiotrophy to transform harmful gamma radiation into metabolic energy, offering a biological model for survival in high-radiation environments like deep space.
Radiotrophic fungi utilize the pigment melanin to harvest gamma radiation for growth, much like green plants use chlorophyll to capture sunlight. In 1991, researchers identified black molds including Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Wangiella dermatitidis thriving on the walls of the decommissioned No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. These organisms exhibit positive radiotropism, intentionally directing their growth toward high-intensity radiation sources that would be lethal to most other life forms.
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