02/08/2026
A black fungus evolved to feeds on radiation at Chernobyl.
In the ruins of Chernobyl, scientists discovered something bizarre: a black fungus growing directly on the walls of Reactor 4 – one of the most radioactive places on Earth.
The organism, called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, doesn’t just survive radiation. It appears to feed on it.
This fungus uses a process called radiosynthesis, similar to photosynthesis in plants – but instead of using sunlight, it absorbs high-energy gamma radiation and converts it into chemical energy. It's one of the few organisms on Earth known to do this.
And it gets stranger.
When scientists sent samples of this fungus to the International Space Station, it not only survived – it grew. In fact, it formed a thin biofilm that blocked up to 84% of incoming cosmic radiation, suggesting it could one day act as a living radiation shield for astronauts.
Radiation is one of the biggest risks for deep-space travel. Traditional shielding is bulky and heavy – a major problem for long missions to Mars or beyond. A self-regenerating biological layer that grows in response to radiation? That could be a game-changer.
Back on Earth, researchers are also studying the fungus for bioremediation – using it to clean up radioactive sites that are too dangerous for humans. Its ability to tolerate and even metabolize radiation might make it a key tool for future nuclear disaster recovery.
“It’s like nature engineered a biological radiation shield,” one researcher said.
From reactor ruins to orbit, this unassuming black fungus may help us survive in the most extreme environments the universe can throw at us.
Learn more:
“This Black Fungus Might Be Healing Chernobyl by Drinking Radiation – A Biologist Explains.” Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
